VINTAGE Sharp PC-1261 BASIC Pocket Computer
Please see photos as the best description of the item's condition.
Vintage Sharp PC-1261 BASIC pocket computer that is in perfect working condition and in good physical condition.The listing includes the Sharp PC-1261 BASIC calculator/computer and fresh CR2032 batteries installed.
US Based Seller - Quick Shipping from America's Heartland!Because of the rare nature of this particular unit, it's difficult to price it. I've set a high buy-it-now price with the hopes that interested buyers will make a fair/reasonable offer - All reasonable offers will be considered/accepted/countered. Thank you!According to AI:Q: How many pc-1261 have a transitional 10k rather than 4k?A: There’s no official production count from Sharp, but based on collector reports and teardown documentation, transitional PC-1261 units with 10 KB RAM are estimated to be a small minority—likely under 10% of all PC-1261s produced.
Q: What defines a transitional 10K PC-1261?
A:Externally labeled as PC-1261, but internally fitted with the same board and RAM chip as the PC-1262.Typically found in late production runs, possibly during Sharp’s shift to the PC-1262.Identifiable by running PRINT FRE(0) in BASIC—returns ~9500 bytes free instead of ~3200
📦 Collector insightsThese units are highly sought after due to their rarity and hybrid nature. No serial number pattern has been definitively linked to identifying them, so verification requires either a memory test or internal inspection. Some collectors speculate that Sharp reused PC-1262 boards to exhaust inventory or streamline manufacturing during the transition.
Estimated Production Volume Sharp PC-1261: Between 50,000 and 100,000 units worldwide.
🧩 Basis for Estimate Short production run:Likely manufactured between late 1984 and mid-1986.Limited regional distribution: Primarily sold in Japan and select European markets, with fewer units reaching North America.Collector rarity: Compared to the PC-1262, the 1261 is significantly harder to find, especially in working condition🧠 Transitional 10K unitsOf the 50-100K units manufactured, only a small fraction—likely under 5,000 units—are believed to be transitional 10 KB variants with PC-1262 internals. These hybrids are especially prized by collectors.