Beginners help

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(05-09-2023 04:59 PM)fedemail Wrote:  I just bought a collection of old calculators and pcs. this includes a dozen of HP (9810a, 9830a, 9845a and b, 9100b etc) and some other brands like olivetti, wang, singer, friden and various gadgets, plotters and spare parts.

Congratulations... that must be enough to fill a small warehouse!

(05-09-2023 04:59 PM)fedemail Wrote:  ...is it safe to turn them on or it may cause damages?

Regarding desktop computers I would think so. Often the electrolytic capacitors within the power supplies dry out which will result in poorly stabilised voltages. The calculators may not run properly but I would not expect them to get damaged.

(05-09-2023 04:59 PM)fedemail Wrote:  Is it possible for a total neophite to quickly understand how to turn them on and test the basic functions?

The HP desktop calculators in your list have "hardwired" operating systems, so no need to boot from tape or disc. They either come on when you insert the plug and press the "ON" key or they are defective. About the others (Olivetti, Wang, ...) I don't really know without having seen them. If they already have something like the BIOS of later PCs with battery backed settings then it will not be easy to get them running again, at least not without spending lots of time reading manuals.

(05-09-2023 04:59 PM)fedemail Wrote:  ...also, some of them have monitors installed, some have not, do they need specific ones?

Definitely. This was before standardised monitor connections and "multisync" monitors. To each calculator it's own monitor it was back then...

(05-09-2023 04:59 PM)fedemail Wrote:  ... should i just sell them as untested or the working/not working value difference is too much to ignore?

There is an enormous difference in value between working and nonworking calculators. Especially large desktop calculators can even have a negative value in coutries like Germany (where I live) because you may be charged for the disposal of electronic waste. By kilogram - and these things are heavy!

(05-09-2023 04:59 PM)fedemail Wrote:  Sorry if this is out of place in here but i'm in Italy and these machines were not that much common here, i found nobody able to help me and i am trying all i can.

Where in Italy are you? I just visited my mother over the last weekend (she lives in the province of Varese) and will visit her again sometime in june. If it is not too far away I will be happy to have a look at your collection and maybe there is something I can help with.

Regards
Max