Unusual HP-80

[Michael Eckstein]

(08-20-2015 03:11 AM)John R Wrote:  I recently acquired an HP-80 with some interesting characteristics. Some of these are consistent with the first version of the HP-80, but some of these I have never seen before. Specifically, this calculator has:

• "Hewlett-Packard" label (no "80") at foot of calculator
• Metal strip under screen
• "ON" and "OFF" lettering in white
• Serial number sticker at bottom rear (not in battery compartment), seemingly stuck on top of the typical "Hewlett Packard 3.75V 500MW" sticker
• Serial number date/location code of 1143A, and stamped with "LP 99" instead of five-digit sequence number
• Raised bump on "5" key, as with early HP-35 calculators
• Thin lettering on the numeral keys, as with early HP-35 calculators
• Slightly different key coloration than other HP-80 or HP-35 calculators I have seen
  

Has anybody encountered this collection of features in an HP-80 before? I’m wondering if this is a frankencalculator, a repair job, or even a prototype.

I bought a similar HP 80 ten years ago. Serial number was 1302A LP 50. It looks that for the lab prototypes was significant only the number after LP, since mine was lower and 1302A was later.
The front case of that HP 80 had an unusual silver HP logo in the upper right corner, too.

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