Electronic Calculators

Burroughs was one of the first companies in the U.S. to successfully market the electronic calculator. The first machines were built for Burroughs by the Sharp Company in Japan. These machines, identified as the C3000 line (C3100, C3200, C3300, C3350) were large, used Nixie tubes for the display, and were very expensive.

The early machines were so fast as to amaze everyone who saw them, and at the same time, so slow that when the operator performed a difficult calculation, such as a square root (on the C3350), you could see the tubes flash as the calculation was under way.

Burroughs built many models over the years of production, including a bookkeeping model with a moving printer. Never a market leader, these machines were very early on the market and were sold to replace the thousands of currently installed mechanical machines in Burroughs accounts.

Series C – Generally ten-key machines in many models and styles

Date range -- 197x-198x

Original Price -- $100-$2,000

Today’s Value -- $50-$200

C3300 - One of the first electronic calculators on the market.

Built by Sharp in Japan and sold as a Burroughs Calculator.

Models includes C3100, C3200, C3300, and C3350.

Early (not the first) Sharp (Japan) built machine - used Nixie tubes (A Burroughs patented device)

Newer model

Later model C2436