Calculators / adding machines - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

ProBowlUK · Senior Member

Calculators / adding machines

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Bob,

Oh now your talking....

My favorites are a pair of Xerox XRX-250 desk calculators that I affectionately call the twins. They weren't expensive calculators but I like them so much that over Christmas I actually figured out how to dismantle them and replace the batteries (They were never designed to last longer than the batteries despite the fact that they've also got solar cells).

I've got a Xerox XRX-150 on me just about all of the time.

Other calculators that I've got are :

Texet D3sktop MKII (Feels cheap)
Casio MS-80VER-s (Not really taken to it)
Aurora DT661 (too many functions and I've lost the instructions)
Casio fx-85ES (two line display but for no apparent reason I really hate this one)
2 unbranded ones.

Everything that I've bought myself has 12 digits.

My eldest boy thinks that I'm very sad because whenever I go in Ryman the fist thing that I do is check out the calculators.

Unfortunate thing is that for the most part you have to buy them to find out if they're any good or not.

Don't know why Xerox stopped making them as they are by far the best I've ever used.

Of course, by far the most popular calculator that I use is Excel! (And I've got 4 different versions of that on my machine).

Don't use adding machines at all.

Right, confessions time people. Who next to admit how many calculators they've actually got!

Talk soon Bob.

Shaun.

Marky65 · Guru

Hi Shaun

I can't compete with you on this, I only have one, a casio HR-8TEC which is good enough for me as it even has a till roll for when I need it to prove things.

Regards

Mark

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Ahh, that would be because your not a sad Muppet like me!

Hope you have a good day Mark,

Talk later,

Shaun.

Amanda · Expert

Mark I have the same as you because I like the till roll, also have a Casio MS120TV which I take to clients and another one on the desk somewhere which is a spare.

We are sad muppets I like my Casio HR-8TEC the best.

A

-- Edited by Amanda on Friday 15th of January 2010 09:27:01 AM

Marky65 · Guru

I don't think there is anything sad or muppetlike about our fascinations. I am though surprised to see that someone has the same calulator, I thought we would end up with loads of different makes & models being mentioned and loved by their users. My casio and laptop are almost always by my side

Regards

Mark

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Ooh, ooh, just realised that I'm now a senior! Think I should throw a party? Not bad after only being a member of the site for 12 days! Perhaps maybe I talk too much!

chat later,

Shaun.

Marky65 · Guru

Well done Shaun on reaching that milestone

I wouldn't say that you talk too much but 108 posts in 12 days is pretty good going :)
and when you do post you do add something to each thread

Regards

Mark

BackOfficeGroup · Guru

Congrats Shaun....

Sorry for taking so long to put something on this thread, lol...

Aurora DT303!

P

AngelaWBS · Senior Member

Hello chaps,

If I can add to the list of calculators; mine is a Sharp EL 1801C and it is about 9 years old. My little one which fits nicely into my pencil case is an Arora HC108. I was given this with my ICB study course material, so that little thing is over 10 years old and no change of battery.

Are we sad or what biggrin

Marky65 · Guru

Hi Angela

I don't think we are sad but I do think we could all do with a bit more to do if it has come to us discussing calculators

Regards

Mark

AngelaWBS · Senior Member

Fortunately for me I do have plenty to do.

As I was reading through the OP the replies made me smile at how we love our calculators.

A nice lighthearted topic for the afternoon smile

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

And back to the post about is everyone busy at the moment!

Still quiet here.

I spoke with an agent this morning and she said that they're getting so many CV's in at the moment that some of the better one's are being missed in the deluge.

I did find out one little gem. They've got people checking through the CV's looking for specific words or qualifications but the people doing the checking are not from our world so have no idea about equivalent qualifications. It was only my talking with the actual agent that made her realise that in looking for the word AAT anyone with CAT / PQ ACCA / PQ CIMA etc. was being missed completely!

Marky65 · Guru

Sorry Shaun

I didn't mean to take it back there, though I am please that Angela is busy.

If this makes sense having had to deal with agencies in the past as both an employer and employee I am astounded that that would happen but not really surprised. It certainly doesn't fill you with any confidence when you need them to find work for you.

Regards

Mark

BackOfficeGroup · Guru

I work for those employment agencies! Obviously there are some good and some bad but all CV's in all agencies are sorted by words using watchdogs, very commonplace, people only then read the Cv's that get brought up, so if you do not have ACCA for example as a watchdof, then those CV's will not get picked up!

P

Wella · Expert

I, like Shaun, prefer to use Excel but I do use a very cheap one I bought from Staples an SPL-290. It's got a few accounting functions and adding machine type layout with large keys, 12 digit display and solar powered. Very useful to have on the desk for those quick additions that you sometimes have to do.

The worst type of calculator is any calculator with rattling keys. I took my L3 exam in room with four others and one woman was very proficient with it but the keys made such a noise that it sounded like a machine gun rattling, to the point that the invigilator had to have words - it was really distracting (I was very impressed with her typing speed though - beats mine by tenfold)

Bill

Brewsie · Veteran Member

My Casio MS-8TV is fine. Good size display and keys. Most importantly it has keys to do VAT calcs - 17.5% added with one key press!

lor · Guru

My calculator at work is a little Ativa, the guys in the office take the mick because it is small, but I think it is perfect because I have small hands!

Does anyone still use adding machines?, to be honest never seen the point in them when there is excel!. When I first started my job the person before me used an adding machine, so I did when I first started, but when I found my feet, that was one of the first things I changed, straight on to excel!!!!

kjmcculloch · Guru

I feel terribly sad in that I only have one calculator, a texet. Although I do keep forgetting where I put it. Maybe I need to get one on a string.

Kris

semsley · Guru

lor wrote:

My calculator at work is a little Ativa, the guys in the office take the mick because it is small, but I think it is perfect because I have small hands!

Does anyone still use adding machines?, to be honest never seen the point in them when there is excel!. When I first started my job the person before me used an adding machine, so I did when I first started, but when I found my feet, that was one of the first things I changed, straight on to excel!!!!

I haven't used an adding machine since 1969 (they didn't have calculators then or excel). It was a facit and had keys similar to those on a manual typewriter. We had to add in £sd then too. I never could get a trial balance to balance first time!!!!!

I do remember though it was probably 1976/77 I worked for the Sales Director of a company to whom the assembly of the Sinclair Cambridge Electronic Calculators had been outsourced. I used to go round the factory doing stock checks and getting stats for management reports.