Abstract: A system for recording an inventory of articles, in an article storage area, comprisesA. a platform sized to be attached to an inventory taker moving about the article storage area,B. instrumentation including an alphanumeric keyboard unit, calculator and display supported on the platform,C. a data recorder operatively connected with the keyboard unit, and means to support the recorder on the inventory taker, andD. the keyboard unit including alpha and numerical keyboards and arithmetic function keys, and there being circuitry including two additional keys the first of which is operable when manually selected to enable recordation by the recorder of the keyboard output and to disable the calculator connection to the recorder, and the second of which is operable when manually selected to interconnect the calculator and the recorder.