When I passed my Chartered Certified accountancy exams in 1980, my wife dipped into her savings and bought me a great Tandy calculator. It was actually a rebranded Casio and was sold with the imposing title of “A calculator-sized programmable computing device”, which at the time was stretching the point somewhat, but what did most people know about computers then.
Since that day that my Tandy EC-2013 has been with me every day and never let me down. In 1986 I had to tippex Eric (EriC) on the back of it after someone “borrowed” it from drawer whist I was on holiday. Eric has been with me ever since, man and boy, it’s worked perfectly when I worked for HMRC and now my own accountancy practice.
Although the solar panel doesn’t work as well as it used to and some of the numbers are a little worn: I’ve even had to use super-glue when he had an accident a few years back, he has still soldiered on and I became very attached to that calculator. Over the years I can only guess at how many calculations it has made; it always gets it right, and has seen me through many tight spots. It’s Tonto to my Lone Ranger. Similar to a member of the SAS, who can strip is rifle down blindfolded, I know every key position without looking. He always seemed happy to see me, his face always lit up brightly when you pushed his buttons. Over the years I have been offered newer cleverer shiny models but I have always stood by Eric and him by me.
However last week a tragedy occurred and it all came crashing to an end. I was late leaving to see a client who had a major problem and whilst putting my work bag containing Eric over my shoulder, somehow Eric slipped out and tumbled down the stairs and crashed into a door, breaking into several pieces. I rushed after him to try and save him but it was too late, Eric’s condition was more than life threatening, it looked terminal.
I held him in my hands one last time, hoping against hope that somehow he could be revived; he gamely tried to power up, his screen flickered and numbers scrolled across in a bizarre fashion and then he went onto standby for the last time. I tried desperately to resuscitate him, but without success he had flatlined. I had lost my long-time trusted side-kick. So yesterday I trudged discontentedly into PC World to find a new partner in crime, although even with the memory of a herd of elephants and Wifi, he won’t be in the same league as Eric.
Thinking about it, as his model number ended in 2013, I guess this was his time to go. I suppose it would be how he wanted his long and loyal service to me to end, rushing to see a client to save the day, as opposed to getting the calculator equivalent of senility and starting to increasingly malfunction and seeing the end of his days stuck in a drawer. I know he would have preferred to go out in a bang; an action hero, as opposed to a long lingering death.
I intend to have Eric cremated with our confidential documents and will pay my last respects to Eric then.
Eric Tandy 1980-2013 RIP
If you would like see an accountant who almost celebrated a silver anniversary with his calculator then see David’s profile here
David Jones is the Senior Partner and Founder of Morgan Jones & Company. Born in Liverpool and an Accountancy graduate of the University of Wolverhampton, David spent twenty years working for the Customs & Excise in London then Shrewsbury before starting his own business. David's depth of knowledge of the UK tax system and his ability to communicate this learning has seen Morgan Jones & Company grow into Shropshire's most respected Accountancy Practice.