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HP calculators sales volume - Andres - 04-21-2019 01:57 PM
Hello all!
I'm working on a university assignment about the first HP pocket calculators, and I wonder if someone here may have a rough estimate of the number of units sold, specially for the first models (mainly those on the Classic and Woodstock series; Spice and Coconut quantities may also be nice to have). I learnt that the break-even ponit for the HP-35 was 10.000 units but it sold 100.000 units on its first year!
I'm usually interested about technical aspects, but this time I need more business-side data.
Thank you very much in advance, best regards.
RE: HP calculators sales volume - AndiGer - 04-27-2019 10:34 AM
Looking for something else I accidentally stumbled over this report from February 1975:
https://www.sliderulemuseum.com/Calculators/TheElectronicSlideRuleComesOfAge_NicholasValery_NewScientist_27Feb1975.pdf
On page 4 the author mentions 300,000 HP-35 sold (so far).
HTH
RE: HP calculators sales volume - Andres - 04-27-2019 03:56 PM
Thank you! The whole article is good reading and it contains useful information for me.
RE: HP calculators sales volume - burkhard - 04-29-2019 12:06 AM
(04-27-2019 10:34 AM)AndiGer Wrote: Looking for something else I accidentally stumbled over this report from February 1975:
https://www.sliderulemuseum.com/Calculators/TheElectronicSlideRuleComesOfAge_NicholasValery_NewScientist_27Feb1975.pdf
"Prices will fall further, but not so dramatically..."
And then came the TI-30 the next year (1976) for ≈$25. Ooops.
RE: HP calculators sales volume - Csaba Tizedes - 04-29-2019 01:21 PM
(04-27-2019 10:34 AM)AndiGer Wrote: This report from February 1975:
https://www.sliderulemuseum.com/Calculators/TheElectronicSlideRuleComesOfAge_NicholasValery_NewScientist_27Feb1975.pdf
It is available today's calculator's price breakdown?
We made a rough and quick estimation in 2016: here (sorry, Hungarian) and the total was approx. 2200HUF~4500HUF per pcs under 100 manufactured units (eg. 8~15 USD per pcs as per Hungarian prices and today's dollar) based on MSP430 without housing.
Any breakdowns?!
Study on Rockwell from 1975 - striegel - 05-12-2019 04:12 PM
(04-21-2019 01:57 PM)Andres Wrote: ... estimate of the number of units sold, specially for the first modelsThis 1975 document (from Harvard Business School) focuses on Rockwell, but makes reference to all their major competitors. It should provide some useful figures, with estimated HP unit sales from 1974 given as .35 - .45 Million.
...
...I need more business-side data.
...
Alan
RE: HP calculators sales volume - Andres - 05-13-2019 10:12 PM
Thank you!
RE: HP calculators sales volume - burkhard - 05-14-2019 06:00 PM
(05-12-2019 04:12 PM)striegel Wrote:(04-21-2019 01:57 PM)Andres Wrote: ... estimate of the number of units sold, specially for the first modelsThis 1975 document (from Harvard Business School) focuses on Rockwell, but makes reference to all their major competitors. It should provide some useful figures, with estimated HP unit sales from 1974 given as .35 - .45 Million.
...
...I need more business-side data.
...
Alan
A great quote which teaches a lesson that emerging technology prognostication by 'experts' (even for the near future!) is really really tough:
"Industry estimates as to when the market would reach saturation were mixed. One source stated the saturation level would be 1 to 1.3 calculators per household... He estimated the average life span of a calculator to be about three years..."