JR 01 Ordinateur

YEAR: 1970
ITEM: Childrens' Comp./Game
COMPANY: Jouets Raitonnels
COUNTRY: France
IN OUR COLLECTION: Yes

Named the French toy of 1970 by the Oscar D'or Du Jouet (Golden Oscars), the JR 01 Ordinateur (JR 01 Computer) is one of the very first toys to be sold as a programmable computer. The JR 01 was not for professional use in anyway, rather just a learning tool for children. The idea of this computer is a quite simple one. There is no microprocessor or integrated circuit. There are just a few threads and a lot of common logic that takes place. There are three strips on which the are placed to give values of 0 or 1 and four lamps that are connected to the strips by a few wires. Each lamp on or off gives a result of 0 or 1 as well.

The JR 01 Ordinateur comes with two numbered booklets. The first one contains fifteen cards with as many games and exercises to implement into the machine. The second booklet is in a different direction. It is called, "JR 01 its Programming Principle. It reveals how the computer works simply by using AND and OR operations. This details all the Boolean mathematical principles as well as exercise sheets.

The JR stands for the company name, Jouets Raitonnels, which translates as Rational Toys and seems to be a division of Mattel France S.A.

The exact same computer seems to have been marketed in American & Britain, Italy, and Germany in their respective languages. We have an American one in our collection that is sold by Electronic Data Controls Corporation (EDC).

It should be noted that the JR 01 computer was "developed in conjunction with Honeywell-Bull Corporation".

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