To a seven-year old kid, fresh back from watching Star Wars in 1977, the glow of the red LED was as futuristic and enchanting as the glow of Obi-Wan’s light sabre. It was the era that defined science fiction. Silver droids, grey moonbases, red lasers and black holes influenced the design of technical goods. New products appeared weekly, emerging as the result of a process of experimentation and refinement.

The teak veneer, kitsch orange and garish plastic of the mid-seventies, subsided to a new wave of silver aluminium and hard-edged black goods. My generation embraced new technology and the race to own the most advanced calculator, computer and hi-fi rocketed. Pre-pubescent youth discarded with their flares and became intent on making their bedrooms look like the control cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, full of gadgets, buttons, levers and flashing LED’s.

The extent of this transformation is most evident in the design of the pocket calculator. The demand for these small practical devices in the seventies resulted in production by over 200 companies around the globe. This frenzy resulted in a rich diversity of shape and form. Collecting pocket calculators is exciting for the very reason that you cannot predict how your next ‘find’ will look. There are some pretty unique and striking designs out there! Happy hunting..

Calculators listed by manufacturer

Listed chronologically

Preview calcs before they reach e-Bay

If you can't find what you're looking for on www.stellatron.com today.. try again in a few weeks, but in the meantime take a look at Guy Ball & Bruce Flamm’s fairly comprehensive book "The Complete Collector's Guide to Pocket Calculators"