Exhibit of the Amuseum
| Introduced |
17.04.1965 at special event for communist party leader Todor Zhivkov. Oficially shown at INFORGA65 trade fair, May 1965 in Moskow |
| Production years |
1965 - 1973? |
| Items produced |
Highest serial I've seen is 25606/1973. Documented serials by years as follows:
1966 - SN 1060
1967 - SN 1458
1970 - from SN 14346 to SN 14382
1971 - from SN 14937 to SN 16936
1972 - from SN 19289 to SN 22445
1973 - from SN 23444 to SN 25606
|
| Produced by |
Elektronika, Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Dimensions and weight |
530 х 450 х 220 mm; 18 kg |
| Colors offered |
Black, cast aluminium base, gray-blue tin cover, darker kaypad base and cast aluminium shade. Nixie display with transparent glass, some items (1970-72) with orange window. |
One of the first calculators in the world with square root function.
The name states for Bulgarian transcription of ELectronic KAlkulator (ЕЛектронен КАлкулатор). One of the engineers who created the machine - Stefan Angelov, Lyubomir Antonov and Petar Popov gave the idea for the number - year 65, second generation calculating machines (transistored), first machine = 6521.
Based on first bulgarian computer named VITOSHA. This device opened doors and helped party leaders to focus on perpectives that electronics can offer. Huge industry was created in the country, till 1972-74 Bulgaria was among the top producers of desktop and pocket calculators. However due to big bureaucracy all advances were lost.
Second peak was at the beginning of 80-s, when Apple II clone were introduced to the market. At that time IBM didn't offer desktop computer, but Bulgarian kids were using it at schools...
Years later (mid 1980-s) Bulgaria became one of the biggest electronics producers per capita. Second super computer (firtst one is US originated) were introduced in 1989.
After system change in 1989, (socialism changed to capitalism), the whole Bulgarian electronics industry collapsed.
