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[kby] · 06-07-2019, 06:42 PM

Hopefully an easy one…what was the year of the changeover in the way the Spice calculators were put together (i.e. assuming the serial number was reliable, whatever date code would likely indicate a Spice calculator with the redesigned construction)?

Steve Simpkin · 06-08-2019, 07:24 AM

(06-07-2019 06:42 PM)[kby] Wrote: Hopefully an easy one…what was the year of the changeover in the way the Spice calculators were put together (i.e. assuming the serial number was reliable, whatever date code would likely indicate a Spice calculator with the redesigned construction)?

AFAIK the only way to tell is by weighing the calculator. If it weighs around 175g (6.25oz) it is the newer soldered version. Around 220g (7.75oz) and it's the original press-fit version.

**rprosperi** · 06-08-2019, 04:04 PM

(06-08-2019 07:24 AM)Steve Simpkin Wrote:
(06-07-2019 06:42 PM)[kby] Wrote: Hopefully an easy one…what was the year of the changeover in the way the Spice calculators were put together (i.e. assuming the serial number was reliable, whatever date code would likely indicate a Spice calculator with the redesigned construction)?

AFAIK the only way to tell is by weighing the calculator. If it weighs around 175g (6.25oz) it is the newer soldered version. Around 220g (7.75oz) and it's the original press-fit version.

To partially answer the question about what year... I don't have too many Spice machines, only 1 of each (except several 34C, because, well... they're 34C's) but these samples partially clarify the changeover date:

HP-32E: 2134S, 217g
HP-37E: 2219S, 174g

Thanks to Steve for the simple weight metric, very handy.

[kby] · 06-09-2019, 07:10 PM

(06-08-2019 04:04 PM)rprosperi Wrote:
(06-08-2019 07:24 AM)Steve Simpkin Wrote: AFAIK the only way to tell is by weighing the calculator. If it weighs around 175g (6.25oz) it is the newer soldered version. Around 220g (7.75oz) and it's the original press-fit version.

To partially answer the question about what year... I don't have too many Spice machines, only 1 of each (except several 34C, because, well... they're 34C's) but these samples partially clarify the changeover date:

HP-32E: 2134S, 217g
HP-37E: 2219S, 174g

Thanks to Steve for the simple weight metric, very handy.

Thanks to both of your for the info and for checking. I was thinking weighing was perfectly fine, except I feel a little odd (and not sure how difficult it would be to ge the correct answer) from someone on TAS if I were evaluating a machine, hence my question on dates. Allegedly one had an upgrade done to it (by HP) but it still has an old (1980?) serial number; assuming no case swap or something. I would have thought they would have just sent the person a new calculator—at least that’s what they did when I had some complaint (which I can’t remember, but it probably wasn’t really that serious, except to the snot-nosed nerd I was as a junior in college in 1976 who had admittedly just spent $800 on a calculator).

dmh · 01-07-2024, 07:07 AM

I've just weighed all my Spice models to work out which are solderless without opening them and I get different results to those below although the difference is about the same. I weighed without batteries or case (with battery cover).

Are the measurements below without batteries or case and with battery cover?

I checked my scales by weighing my mobile phone and it exactly matches the vendor specifications and is within the same range so I believe the scales are accurate.

(06-08-2019 04:04 PM)rprosperi Wrote:
(06-08-2019 07:24 AM)Steve Simpkin Wrote: AFAIK the only way to tell is by weighing the calculator. If it weighs around 175g (6.25oz) it is the newer soldered version. Around 220g (7.75oz) and it's the original press-fit version.

To partially answer the question about what year... I don't have too many Spice machines, only 1 of each (except several 34C, because, well... they're 34C's) but these samples partially clarify the changeover date:

HP-32E: 2134S, 217g
HP-37E: 2219S, 174g

Thanks to Steve for the simple weight metric, very handy.

Steve Simpkin · 01-07-2024, 08:54 AM

(01-07-2024 07:07 AM)dmh Wrote: I've just weighed all my Spice models to work out which are solderless without opening them and I get different results to those below although the difference is about the same. I weighed without batteries or case (with battery cover).

Are the measurements below without batteries or case and with battery cover?

I checked my scales by weighing my mobile phone and it exactly matches the vendor specifications and is within the same range so I believe the scales are accurate.

(06-08-2019 04:04 PM)rprosperi Wrote: To partially answer the question about what year... I don't have too many Spice machines, only 1 of each (except several 34C, because, well... they're 34C's) but these samples partially clarify the changeover date:

HP-32E: 2134S, 217g
HP-37E: 2219S, 174g

Thanks to Steve for the simple weight metric, very handy.

I am trying to find the original source of the weights I quoted. So far I have only found quotes I have made Sad

But to answer your question: "With the batteries installed the original press-fit version weighs about 220-230 g. The newer soldered version is lighter and weighs around 170-180 g." This should include the battery cover as well.

https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-91...l#pid84780

dmh · 01-07-2024, 09:53 AM

Thanks for confirming the battery weight is included, I suspected that was the case. Although given different battery options now it's probably best to remove this variable.

Here is my data (excluding the battery). It appears that the serial number is not enough to determine if a Spice model is solderless or not (assuming weight method is definitive), this is assuming back case / serial number hasn't changed but as I am not the original owner I cannot confirm this.

Code:

Model Serial#  Weight (gm)

32E   1919S    177

33C   2010S    131

34C   2021S    134

34C   2022S    134

33C   2026S    176

32E   2034S    178

34C   2051S    132

33C   2112S    164

(01-07-2024 08:54 AM)Steve Simpkin Wrote:
(01-07-2024 07:07 AM)dmh Wrote: I've just weighed all my Spice models to work out which are solderless without opening them and I get different results to those below although the difference is about the same. I weighed without batteries or case (with battery cover).

Are the measurements below without batteries or case and with battery cover?

I checked my scales by weighing my mobile phone and it exactly matches the vendor specifications and is within the same range so I believe the scales are accurate.

I am trying to find the original source of the weights I quoted. So far I have only found quotes I have made
But to answer your question: "With the batteries installed the original press-fit version weighs about 220-230 g. The newer soldered version is lighter and weighs around 170-180 g." This should include the battery cover as well.

https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-91...l#pid84780