Helec tip-in GT 539

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Just as almost every self-proclaimed Japanese company claims to have made the first real pocket-sized calculator, so did the former West Germany companies who had been making such devices since 1972. In addition to some individuals also engaging in series production, mostly smaller electronics companies started similar projects. What they have in common is that they have built calculators with Texas Instruments chips, keyboards, and LED displays from american companies. Helec, founded in 1970, was one of them, and produced the “tip-in” pocket calculator model GT 530 not only for their own brand, but also for the Quelle catalog store, among with a desktop stand. Later, as newer circuits appeared in the market, newer “tip-in” models were made, such as the GT 539 four-function model with memory, or the GT 532 scientific type. In 1974, the not-so-large-scale company, which have only assembled calculators without producing any of important parts, was forced to shut down production due to the extremely rapid decline in price of pocket calculators, and tried to sell some of its stockpiled semi-finished part as home-assembly kits.

An interesting feature of the GT 539 is the use of space reserved for sliding switches on the left side for the two additional function buttons, which gave the machine a slightly DIY-look.