Michael Brutman Lets You Print Your Own Hexadecimal Calculator, Like It's 1967 All Over Again
A promotional gift from Programmatics Incorporated lives again for anyone who wants to see paper count.
Vintage computing enthusiast Michael B. Brutman has released a scan of the only working "computer" you can print at home: the Programmatics Incorporated Hexamatic/16 hexadecimal calculator, printable on only just sheets of paper.
"Everybody needs a paper hex calculator," Brutman claims in support of the release. "Programmatics, Inc. might live on today but they are certainly not handing out cool paper hexadecimal calculators. Use these templates to create your own copy!"
In what may go down in history as the only example of a computer — albeit a non-programmable one, and more in the historical job-title sense — being distributed as a two-page PDF, Brutman's release is a scan of a paper slide-rule calculator released by Programmatics Incorporated in 1967 as a promotional giveaway — one made from two pieces of folded-and-cut card.
The idea behind the device is simple: the outer section is folded into an envelope with cutouts through which the inner section can be viewed. By sliding the inner card along the envelope, it's possible to convert hexadecimal numbers to decimal and vice-versa, add hexadecimal numbers, and subtract hexadecimal numbers — all with nothing but paper and your choice of toner or ink.
The PDF is linked from Brutman's Mastodon post; "Use a color laser printer," he advises those looking to print their own, "and feed it heavier paper for better results."