HP 48SX with Strange Gold Logo

[shoman24v]

I picked up this HP 48SX and it has this gold logo on it. It definitely does not feel like it was added after the fact but rather part of the metal overlay.

Google images turned up nothing, and I don't even know where to begin looking.

Has anyone seen this logo before on these calculators? Some sort of handout calculator?



Closer view

[vaklaff]

Possibly an older version of Sparkasse’s logo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe). I imagine they were able to get a customize batch.

(Edit: typo)

[shoman24v]

(02-18-2023 08:14 PM)vaklaff Wrote:  Possibly an older version of Sparkasse’s logo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe). I imagine they were able to get a customize batch.

(Edit: typo)

Whoa, that is very similar!

[john gustaf stebbins]

The shape is similar to the mortar and pestle shape used for a lot of pharmacy and drug companies. I've not found a match, but could be a local company.

[JanS]

I'd discount the Sparkasse attribution based on 2 things:
The dot above all known Sparkasse logos that have it (like depicted here: https://www.sparkassengeschichtsblog.de/...cklung.jpg) is representing a coin beeing dropped into a piggy bank and is always centered above the letter "S" and the letter itself has the "whitespace" always aligned in a horizontal fashion.

John's suggestion of a stylised Mortar and pestle seems to match with the off centered positioning of the dot representing the pestle stem (something like this: http://clipart-library.com/clipart/289402.htm).
The fact that no google image search on either the image itself nor a picture search with a "mortar and pestle logo" search phrase turns up anything useful leads me to believe that the organisation that used that logo is no longer in existence. It might be helpful to know the year of manufacture of the calculator to narrow down on possible candidates that were in existence at the time of manufacture - possibly starting with the letter "S" in their name.

Maybe shoman24v can provide the S/N or identify the date of manufactre himself (https://www.hpmuseum.org/collect.htm#numbers)

Nice Calculator !

[shoman24v]

(02-18-2023 10:07 PM)john gustaf stebbins Wrote:  The shape is similar to the mortar and pestle shape used for a lot of pharmacy and drug companies. I've not found a match, but could be a local company.

This suggestion actually makes sense. As supported by stylized Mortar and pestle JanS posted below.

(02-19-2023 12:54 AM)JanS Wrote:  I'd discount the Sparkasse attribution based on 2 things:
The dot above all known Sparkasse logos that have it (like depicted here: https://www.sparkassengeschichtsblog.de/...cklung.jpg) is representing a coin beeing dropped into a piggy bank and is always centered above the letter "S" and the letter itself has the "whitespace" always aligned in a horizontal fashion.

John's suggestion of a stylised Mortar and pestle seems to match with the off centered positioning of the dot representing the pestle stem (something like this: http://clipart-library.com/clipart/289402.htm).
The fact that no google image search on either the image itself nor a picture search with a "mortar and pestle logo" search phrase turns up anything useful leads me to believe that the organisation that used that logo is no longer in existence. It might be helpful to know the year of manufacture of the calculator to narrow down on possible candidates that were in existence at the time of manufacture - possibly starting with the letter "S" in their name.

Maybe shoman24v can provide the S/N or identify the date of manufactre himself (https://www.hpmuseum.org/collect.htm#numbers)

Nice Calculator !

I think you and john gustaf stebbins are on to what the logo could be. I tired to look up the lineage of the Sparkasse logo and couldn't find anything, but you did. Definitely not that.

The S/N of this unit is 3043A01636, seems to be fairly early.

I was going to use this SX as a replacement for my another I keep in my desk to use from time to time. Having to press the bezel on that one was getting worse, but the more I think of it, maybe I should keep this one aside. Interesting logo, fairly early.

[JanS]

Ok, I did a USPTO Search for Mortar and Pestle logos and came up with this:

https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/jumpto?f=...g6v.3.1154
(Record 1154 in the 19.13.01 - Mortars and pestles category)

So the Logo / Trademark Registration belonged to ICI AMERICAS INC. (incorporated December 3rd, 1986 (according to Bloomberg) and the registration expired November 4th, 1992.

Here's the english Wikipedia entry for the mother company, albeit a little thin on the american side of operations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_C...Industries

Another mystery solved!
But how many were made ???

Enjoy your rare 48!

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(02-19-2023 02:30 PM)JanS Wrote:  Ok, I did a USPTO Search for Mortar and Pestle logos and came up with this:

https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/jumpto?f=...g6v.3.1154
(Record 1154 in the 19.13.01 - Mortars and pestles category)

So the Logo / Trademark Registration belonged to ICI AMERICAS INC. (incorporated December 3rd, 1986 (according to Bloomberg) and the registration expired November 4th, 1992.

Here's the english Wikipedia entry for the mother company, albeit a little thin on the american side of operations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_C...Industries

Another mystery solved!
But how many were made ???

Enjoy your rare 48!

Couldn't find my way in that search engine, but it was easy to google once I knew the company name, thanks! :)

https://uspto.report/TM/73451987

[shoman24v]

Wow guys, you rock! Mystery solved!