Description:
- Object ID: ALSA 2010.02.01
- Made by: Olivetti S.p.A. (Olivetti, Incorporated)
- Model: Programma 101
- Serial Number: Unknown
- Date Made: 1965 to 1971.
- Approximate size: 45 cm width, 60 cm depth, 26 cm height
- Accessories: Power chord, two magnetic cards.
- Condition: good
Commentary:
The Olivetti’s Programma 101, marketed in 1965, is recognized as being the first desktop “personal computer. Another computer introduced a year earlier, the Mathatron had some programable capabilities but was outclassed by the Programma 101. The Programma 101 had a total internal memory of 240 bytes. Offline storage of programs and data was provided by recordable magnetic cards. Production stopped in 1971. About 44,000 units were sold worldwide.
This computer, donated by Dave McElhanney, was used by McElhanney, a multi-disciplinary geomatics and engineering company, for calculations for land surveys in Western Canada.
Of interest about 10 Programma 101 computers were sold to NASA and used to plan the 1969 Apollo 11 landing on the Moon.
Source of Object: Donated by Dave McElhanney, ALS.
Notes: The Society has one other Olivetti Programma 101 in their collection – AGHS 2024.05.02 donated by Walter Kiriak ALS (Ret’d).
References: Visit the article Every Surveyors Office could have a Computer – Desktop Computing for additional information. Also see: The Old Calculator Museum: https://www.oldcalculatormuseum.com and Wikipedia: Programma 101.
Description by: Ed Titanich, October 1, 2024 and Gordon Olsson, November 9, 2025..