AKA: COMPET MODEL CS-10A, AKA (Label): MODEL CS-10A, Product number (P/N): CS10 (CS-10A),
Keywords/Tags: CS10 (CS-10A) | 10A | COMPET
Date of intro: jul-1964, Origin: Japan (List), Dimensions: 440x420x250mm, Weight: 25000g,
Power: AC,
Display: Type = Display (Nixie) (List),
Number of keys: 117,
Keyboard Array (Rows x Columns): 10x14,
Classification: / Desktop with Display,
Featuring: Logic-technology: RTL (Resistor Germanium-Transistor Logic), discrete components,
Related with: SHARP_docu: (Broch.) *: La premiere calculatrice... (CS10A,EL8,EL805); SHARP: ELBN691; (Docu_Articles): 198010: Evolution of calculators; SHARP_docu: (Broch.) *: (CS10A,CS15A,CS20A,CS21A,CS30A,CS31A),
Components: 2300 Diode(s), 530 Transistor(s),
Known Serial-numbers: 84245 | 87850 | 89447 (List of all S/Ns from SHARP)
Initial Cost Price: 535000 JPY (€ 4.333,50), Collector value: 10/10,
Info: At the time, Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (the forerunner of today's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
had already begun a mainframe computer project with several Japanese electronics companies.
HAYAKAWA Electric (SHARP) was not able to take part in this project. At any rate, mainframe computers did not fit the company's style of business: there was a limited market for the products,
and they required the development of dedicated software.
HAYAKAWA Electric instead used its strength in mass-produced products to focus on three areas: voucher printers, cash registers, and calculators.
In calculators, the aim was to get users to switch to electronic models from the electric products mainly in use at the time.
The company set to work developing a full-keyboard, 20-digit display desktop transistor calculator that would be quiet and fast yet would be about the same weight (approximately 20 kg)
and price (approximately 500,000 yen) as electric models.
The first prototype failed to meet initial targets, its circuits took up a small room of approximately 7.4 m², and its market price would be more than 1.5 million yen.
To bring down the price, engineers adopted a mechanism that would hold the pressed number keys in the down position and use this as memory, this would reduce the number of transistors required.
They also used inexpensive germanium transistors like those found in radios. To ensure stable quality, they used parts that had been subjected to high-temperature aging,
a conditioning process that enabled parts to withstand wear and tear.
In March 1964, the company introduced the CS-10A Compet, It weighed 25 kg and sold for 535,000 yen, about the same price as a passenger car.
Internet: Link-1, Link-2: IPSJ Computer Museum, Link-3: WIKIMEDIA, Link-4
Intro-Sequence #: 1, Successor: SHARP: CS20A

!!! This item is WANTED to join the collection !!!