Olivetti Divisumma 18

The Olivetti Divisumma 18 is not very old, it’s from 1973. It’s electronical and mechanic, with printer included. The design is very fashion, yellow round plastic body, with a simple keyboard covered with a rubber membrane. This calculator was designed not only to be practical, but also nice to use, nice to see, and pleasant to have on the table. It’s a quite new concept.

There isn’t any display, the result of calculation is printed on the paper roll. But you don’t need a ribbon, because it uses a kind of thermal paper. The design was made by Mario Bellini for Olivetti, and this calculator is in permanent exhibition at the “MoMa”, the Museum of Modern Art in New York. When this calculator is not in use, it remains on the table as an object to be admired and touched.

The color is yellow, Bellini says this calculator was designed to resemble an hand, both in the color and in the shape. The sensation when touching the rubber is soft and pleasant. It’s similar to the sensation when touching the skin. You see the advertising? It says the calculator with the skin you love to touch.

It these years it was happening the transition from mechanical to electronic technology, and this calculator include both technologies.

It has the standard buttons for the four arithmetic operations, the total and the partial total. Not being mechanical, it’s enough a soft touch to type the number.

Inside there is a battery, so it’s a portable calculator with 5 hours autonomy. It’s also very light and small, in contrast to calculators of the same period, much more heavy and without any consideration for style.

If you want more information, please look at the video.

In TV series Space 1999 this calculator was also used as intergalactic translator!