Historical and adjusted-for-inflation prices of calculators

[Namir]

(05-31-2023 08:16 PM)John Ioannidis Wrote:  I've been wondering for a long time how (un)realistic prices on The Auction Site are for some of the rarer models — an HP-19C in excellent condition goes for amost USD 1K.

I chose as my cut-off point the year the HP28C was introduced. With its weird form factor and language, it no longer counted as an HP calculator for me.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...sp=sharing

The prices are prices at introduction of the base model.

The CPI data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUUR0000SA0

While we are at it: there were two versions of the 32SII, the one with the traditional color scheme, and another (a re-implementation?) with the idiotic low-contrast HP-48G-like scheme. The museum does not have a picture of the latter, nor years of introduction or prices.

IMnsHO, the only decent calculator introduced in the last thirty years has been the HP-35S. Proper, high-contrast keyboard, excellent tactile feedback. Between that, and the excellent HP41 emulator for the Android (go41CX), all my calculator needs are handled!

Interesting Excel table. However what is missing is the devaluation data based on the general loss of interest in these calculators. the TAS should be a good source of data to see what "the offered prices" are for the various models. Interestingly the devaluation data is influenced by supply and demain which can vary with time. A few years ago I was selling working HP-41CV units on TAS auctions. Since I had MANY units to sell I offered them at a competitive price. When one 41CV unit sold, I posted, the same day, an aucion for another 41CV. I was able to bring the price of the 41CV offered even by other sellers.

Namir