909
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The Tektronix 909 aka Scientist 909 is a desktop scientific calculator with a Nixie display. Originally introduced by Cintra in 1969, it became a Tek product when they acquired the company in May 1971.
Sister model Statistician 911 replaces the log(x), tan(x), hyper, and π keys with factorials and statistical functions.
Key Specifications
| Digits | 10 mantissa (12 internal), 2 exponent, both signed |
|---|---|
| Functions | add, subtract, multiply, divide, reciprocal, logarithm (natural and base 10), exponentiation, square, square root, integerize, Pi recall, triangle formula |
| Memory | 26 registers, 85 program steps; various expansion options |
| Performance | add/subtract 0.6 ms, multiply/divide 3 ms, log/ex 16 ms, trig. functions 100 ms |
| Weight | 10.9 kg / 24 lbs |
| Power | 115/230 VAC, 45 W |
Accessories
- The 926 Programmer provides programming functionality with conditionals, branching and subroutines for the 909/911.
- 928 Instructor (cassette interface)
- 941 printer
- 944 TTY interface
- 923 card reader
- 920 "f(x) Repeater"
- 905 Junction box
- 915 X/Y plotter
Links
- Tek 909/911 / Tek 909 Specifications @ oldcalculatormuseum.com
- Tek 909 @ dustyoldcomputers.com
- Tektronix calculators @ vintagetek.org
Documents referencing 909
| Document | Class | Title | Authors | Year | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tekscope 1971 V3 N5 Sep 1971.pdf | Article | The Tektronix Scientist 909 | Dave Takagishi | 1971 | 909 • 926 • 941 • 928 • 911 • Cintra |
Patents that may apply to 909
| Page | Title | Inventors | Filing date | Grant date | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patent US 3720820A | Calculator with a hierarchy control system | Michael J. Cochran | 1971-03-18 | 1973-03-13 | 909 • 911 |
| Patent US 3760370A | Calculator with a number processing system | Michael J. Cochran | 1971-04-26 | 1973-09-18 | 909 • 911 • 31 • 21 (calculator) |
Price
| Year | Catalog price | In 2026 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | $3,780 | ~$34,400 |
| 1971 | $3,200 | ~$26,400 |
In August 1971, Tek announced a price reduction to $3200 while increasing memory to 256 program steps and 26 storage registers (the original 909 had 85 steps and 26 registers). Price reduction was achieved through increased use of MOS/LSI chips.
