# TCV 250 Video Display Terminal

> By Mario Bellini ((Italian, born 1935)); 1966; Sheet steel and vacuum-cast ABS plastic; 36 7/8 x 36 1/16 x 22" (93.7 x 91.6 x 55.9 cm)

**Wikidata**: [Q41515169](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41515169)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tcv-250-video-display-terminal

## Summary
The TCV 250 Video Display Terminal is a computer terminal designed by Italian architect and designer Mario Bellini in 1966. Manufactured by Olivetti, this electronic input/output device is constructed from sheet steel and vacuum-cast ABS plastic. It is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

## Key Facts
- **Date of Inception:** 1966
- **Designer/Creator:** Mario Bellini (Italian, born 1935)
- **Manufacturer:** Olivetti
- **Classification:** Computer terminal (computer input/output device)
- **Materials:** Sheet steel and vacuum-cast ABS plastic
- **Dimensions:** 36 7/8 x 36 1/16 x 22 inches (93.7 x 91.6 x 55.9 cm)
- **Collection:** Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- **MoMA Accession Number:** 434.1983
- **Copyright Status:** Copyrighted (© Mario Bellini)
- **Copyright Holder:** Mario Bellini

## FAQs
### Q: Who designed the TCV 250 Video Display Terminal?
A: The TCV 250 was designed by Mario Bellini, an Italian designer and architect born in 1935.

### Q: What materials were used to manufacture the TCV 250?
A: The terminal is constructed using sheet steel and vacuum-cast ABS plastic.

### Q: Is the TCV 250 part of a museum collection?
A: Yes, the TCV 250 Video Display Terminal is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

### Q: When was the TCV 250 created?
A: The TCV 250 was created in 1966.

## Why It Matters
The TCV 250 Video Display Terminal represents a significant intersection of industrial design and computing history during the mid-1960s. Designed by the influential Italian designer Mario Bellini for Olivetti, the terminal exemplifies the era's effort to humanize office machinery through sophisticated aesthetics and modern materials like vacuum-cast ABS plastic. Its inclusion in the Museum of Modern Art's collection highlights its cultural value beyond mere utility, recognizing it as a masterpiece of 20th-century design. By integrating robust functionality with a distinctively modern form, the TCV 250 helped define the visual language of early office automation.

## Notable For
- **Museum Recognition:** Selected for the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), signifying its importance in design history.
- **Renowned Designer:** Created by Mario Bellini, a celebrated figure in Italian industrial design and architecture.
- **Material Innovation:** Utilizes vacuum-cast ABS plastic combined with sheet steel, showcasing advanced manufacturing techniques for consumer electronics in the 1960s.
- **Iconic Branding:** Manufactured by Olivetti, a company renowned for its focus on design and typography in technology.

## Body
### Design and Creation
The TCV 250 Video Display Terminal was designed in 1966 by Mario Bellini, an Italian designer born in 1935. The device was manufactured by Olivetti, a company well-known for its investment in the aesthetic quality of its machines. Bellini's work on the TCV 250 is noted for its specific material composition, utilizing sheet steel and vacuum-cast ABS plastic to create a durable and distinct enclosure for the hardware.

### Specifications and Physical Characteristics
As a computer terminal, the TCV 250 functioned as an input/output device for computing systems. The physical object measures 36 7/8 inches in height, 36 1/16 inches in width, and 22 inches in depth (93.7 x 91.6 x 55.9 cm). These substantial dimensions suggest a floor-standing unit typical of mainframe terminals from the 1960s.

### Provenance and Copyright
The TCV 250 is cataloged under work ID 3584 at the Museum of Modern Art, with the accession number 434.1983. The design remains under copyright, held by Mario Bellini as of the latest records. The determination of its copyright status has been supported by the GLAM institution (MoMA). An image of the terminal is archived on Wikimedia Commons.

## References

1. [Mario Bellini. TCV 250 Video Display Terminal. 1966 | MoMA](http://www.moma.org/collection/works/3584)
2. [Source](https://www.moma.org/collection/works/3584)
3. [TCV 250 – Mario Bellini Architects](https://bellini.it/portfolio-articoli/tcv-250/)
4. [Mario Bellini. TCV 250 Video Display Terminal. 1966 | MoMA](https://www.moma.org/collection/works/3584)
5. Museum of Modern Art online collection