The Sinclair Cambridge was a pocket-sized calculator introduced in August 1973 by Sinclair Radionics. It was available both as kit form kit to be assembled by the purchaser, or assembled prior to purchase. The range ultimately comprised seven models, the original "four-function" Cambridge, which carried out the four basic mathematical functions of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, being followed by the Cambridge Scientific, Cambridge Memory, two versions of Cambridge Memory %, Cambridge Scientific Programmable and Cambridge Universal.
History
The Cambridge had been preceded by the Sinclair Executive, Sinclair's first pocket calculator, in September 1972. At the time the Executive was smaller and noticeably thinner than any of its competitors, at, fitting easily into a shirtpocket. A major factor in the Cambridge's success was its low price; the Cambridge was launched in August 1973, selling for fully assembled or as a kit. An extensive manual explained how to calculate functions such as trigonometry, n-th root extraction and compound interest on the device.
Design
The Cambridge was extremely small for a calculator of the time: it weighed less than and its size was. Power was supplied by four AAA batteries. The use of cheap components was an important contributor to the unit's cost. A common failure mode was with the switch contacts, making it impossible to switch the calculator off. Due to the use of switch contacts made of nickel coated with tin, rather than the gold, an oxide layer would be smeared across the insulating barrier after repeatedly using the switch.
Display
Numbers were displayed on the 8-digit LED display in scientific format with a 5-digit mantissa and a 2-digit exponent. The Cambridge used light-emitting diodes for its display. On later scientific variants the power draw for the display required a larger PP3 battery, creating a bulge in the lower rear casing of the appliance.
Variants
A later model, the Sinclair Cambridge Scientific, was developed, and launched in March 1974 at a price of £49.95. As the name suggests, it was a development of the Cambridge, using the same case, with the addition of some common scientific functions. The other calculators in the range were the Cambridge Memory, Cambridge Memory %, Cambridge Programmable, Cambridge Scientific, Cambridge Scientific Programmable and Cambridge Universal. The Cambridge Programmable was released in 1975. It lacked accuracy in many of its scientific functions, some yielding only four significant digits. It featured a single memory register and a limit of 36 program steps, along with a conditional jump instruction. The Programmable came with a program libraryconsisting of 4 books, covering general functions, finance & statistics, mathematics, physics & engineering and electronics. The Cambridge Programmable was superseded by the Sinclair Enterprise, which allowed 80 program steps.
