Electronika
Electronika, also spelt Elektronica (Russian: Электроника), is the brand name used for many different electronic products such as calculators, electronic watches, portable games and radios in the Soviet Union and, today, in Belarus. Many Electronika designs were the result of efforts by Soviet engineers, who were working for the Soviet military-industrial complex but were challenged with producing consumer goods which were in great shortage in the Soviet Union.
Now this brand is used by Novosibirsk RPN programmable calculators Electronika MK-152 (ru:Электроника МК-152) and Electronika MK-161 (ru:Электроника МК-161).
Calculators
Most notable is a line of calculators, which started production in 1968. The Electronika calculators were produced in a variety of sizes and function sets, ranging from large, bulky four-function calculators to smaller models designed for use in schools operating on a special, safer 42V standard (like the MK-SCH-2). As time progressed, Electronika calculators were produced that supported more advanced calculations, with some of the most recent models even offering full programmability and functionality similar to today's American-designed graphing calculators.
These designs were based directly on Japanese or American calculators, and often many of the bugs from the original calculator would be found in the Electronika version as well. Sometimes, significant errors were introduced during the design process, resulting in strange behavior during certain calculations. Electronika calculators nevertheless had distinctive designs, legible displays, and were commonly available throughout the Soviet Union. Today, these relics can often be found on online auction sites directly from dealers in Ukraine that are willing to export them worldwide as souvenirs.
Computers
The following Electronika computers used Soviet Intel-compatible CPU:
- MS 1502, MS 1504 — XT clone
- KR-series (01/02/03/04) — mass production of popular Russian 8-bit homebrew RK-86 (ru:Радио 86РК)
The following Electronika computers used Soviet CPU, compatible with PDP-11:
- Electronika 60
- UKNC
- DVK — clone of SM EVM, stripped for mass production to satisfy general scientific and R&D needs
- BK-0010 and BK-0011M — stripped and low-cost version of DVK, targeted at teenagers and home users
Electronic toys
Model names for Electronika-branded Nintendo Game & Watch clones start with IM (ИМ — Игра Микропроцессорная, Russian acronym for "microprocessor game").
The known models include:
- IM-02 Nu, Pogodi! (1984) - Nintendo EG-26 Egg
- IM-03 Mysteries of the Ocean (1989) - Nintendo OC-22 Octopus
- IM-04 Merry Cook (1989) - Nintendo FP-24 Chef
- MG-09 Space Bridge (1989) - Nintendo FR-27 Fire
- MG-13 Explorers of Space (1989)
- IM-18 Fowling (1989)
- IM-22 Merry Footballer (1989)
- MG-50 Amusing Arithmetics (1989)
- IM-23 Car Slalom (1991)
- IM-50 Space Flight (1992)
Post-1992 versions:
- I-01 Car Slalom
- I-02 Merry Cook
- I-03 Space Bridge
- I-04 Fisher Tom-Cat
- I-05 Naval Combat
- I-06 Just you wait!
- I-07 Frog boaster
- I-08 Fowling
- I-09 Explorers of Space
- I-10 Biathlon
- I-11 Circus
- I-12 Hockey
- I-13 Merry Footballer
- I-14 Night Thiefes
- I-15 Mysteries of the Ocean
Original series:
- IM-29 Chess Partner
IM-11 Lunokhod was a clone of Bigtrak toy tank, a programmable battery-powered toy vehicle made by Milton Bradley Company.
Tape recorders (audio)
Reel-to-reel
- 100S (1970, portable stereo)
- ТА1-003 Stereo (1980)
- 004 Stereo
- MPK 007 S (1987)
Cassette
- 203-S (1980, portable stereo)
- 204-S (1984, stereo deck)
- MH-205 stereo (1985, car stereo player)
- 206-stereo
- 211-S (1983, portable stereo)
- 301 (1972, portable)
- 302, 302-1, 302-2 (1974 till 1990s, portable)
- 305 (1984, portable)
- 306 (1986, portable stereo)
- 311-S (1977, portable stereo)
- 321/322 (1978, portable)
- 323/324 (1981, portable)
- M-327 (1987, portable)
- M-334S (1990, portable stereo component system with detachable recorder M-332S)
- М-402S (1990, pocket stereo)
- Elektronika-mini (199?, pocket stereo)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elektronika. |
- Museum of Soviet Calculators On the Web (MOSCOW)
- Collection of Electronika watches
- Article on Electronika watches
- Soviet Digital Electronics Museum