Olympia LCD 180 calculator

The Olympia LCD 180 is a classic pocket calculator originally introduced around 1980. This specific model was part of the brand's 'Lithium-Power' series, which highlighted its use of long-lasting lithium batteries at a time when traditional alkaline or rechargeable NiCad cells were more common.

Historically, Olympia was a prestigious German brand famous for its high-quality typewriters and office equipment. Originally founded in Berlin in 1903 by AEG (Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft) under the name Union-Schreibmaschinen-Gesellschaft m.b.H., it adopted the name Olympia in 1930. While many Olympia mechanical products were manufactured in Germany, the company formed strategic partnerships with Japanese electronics manufacturers, such as Matsushita (Panasonic), to produce its electronic calculators during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Consequently, most pocket calculators of this era, including the LCD 180, were made in Japan.

Following the collapse of the original Olympia-Werke AG in the early 1990s, the brand's ownership shifted. Today, the trademark is managed by Olympia International Holdings Ltd, while GO Europe GmbH (a merger of Olympia Business Systems and Genie GmbH & Co. KG) oversees the distribution and licensing of office products under the Olympia name in Europe and other regions.