OLIVETTI Logos 59 - Electronic Calculator

Circa 1973

The Olivetti Logos 59 is a classic electronic printing calculator that achieved significant recognition as an industrial design icon.

Use Case

The Logos 59 was a sophisticated desk-top machine for professional use in offices, accounting departments, and businesses.

• Functionality: It performed standard arithmetic functions (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) and built upon its predecessor (the Logos 58) by adding extra function keys.

• Output: The calculator lacked a visual display but included a fast and quiet impact printer that used a fabric ribbon to record entries and results on a paper roll, providing a permanent physical record of calculations.

Design Significance

Designed by the renowned Italian architect and industrial designer Mario Bellini, in collaboration with Antonio Macchi Cassia and Sandro Pasqui, the Logos 59 is considered a unique, cutting-edge design classic from the era.

• Aesthetic: The machine's striking aesthetic, characterized by a die-cast aluminum alloy wedge shape, was highly influential and is often cited as a classic example of modern industrial design.

• Ergonomics: Bellini applied the "lectern" concept to the design, creating a significantly angled, inclined surface for the keyboard that was easy for the user to operate. The keyboard itself features subtle color-coding at the key bases to logically group functions, while the key tops share the same color as the body to create a clean, unified appearance.

• Recognition: The design's significance is demonstrated by its inclusion in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

(H-12.4cm x W-37.6cm x D-18.9cm)