# Anyone else ever have a EL-620 talking calculator?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-ever-have-a-el-620-talking-calculator/811721>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 3, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-ever-have-a-el-620-talking-calculator/811721 "2018-04-03T14:34:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-ever-have-a-el-620-talking-calculator/811721/1 "2018-04-03T14:34:31Z")

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A couple of days ago I was looking through boxes for some button cell batteries and I opened a box full of old electronics that contained among other things 11 calculators. One of them was [a Sharp Elsi Mate EL-620 talking calculator](https://tomstek.us/sharp-elsi-mate-talking-calculator-el-620-vintage-review/). I still remember how excited my mother was to discover this at [Sky City](http://www.broadcastprophoto.com/img/s/v-3/p1320523002-3.jpg) (not the same store, but IIRC it looked mostly like that.) It cost $100 in 1980-1982, which was the equivalent of around $275 today and probably at least equaled a week’s pay for her, and probably one of the most expensive “frivolous” things she ever bought for herself. I enjoyed playing with as a child, too, and it managed to still be around now close to 40 years later. Anyone else remember this little piece of consumer electronics history?

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**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-ever-have-a-el-620-talking-calculator/811721/2 "2018-04-03T16:18:12Z")

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Several years ago, I gave (I _thought_, at the time, with her approval) **kaylasmom** ’s away to one of our blind friends. She had another talking calculator at the time, so it was sort of a spare.

I’ve since learned not to involve myself in transactions of this nature.

Still, she doesn’t regret the absence of the EL-620 as much as the demise of her [ELSI Quartz CT-660](https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/sharp-talking-clock-elsi-quartz-ct-148645437). That one plain wore out, though, so I don’t have to take a lot of heat for it.