Hi everybody: I'm new here

[Rosco]

Hey y'all,

I'm Rosco. I currently live in Belgium. I joined the forum because I have quite a few HP calculators and accessories in my collection, only I'm not quite sure how many, and whether the models I have are desirable. I figured maybe you specialists could help me identify what I have.

The thing is, I mainly collect slide rules and addiators. I must have 1,500 of these things. I only get them at flea markets for very cheap - because what's the fun in buying rare models for top dollar from sellers who know what they're selling eh?

I only collect HP calculators on the side, because I have a sweet spot for em since my university days: I buy them when I occasionally find them on a flea market stall, only if they're in reasonable condition, and whenever possible, only if I can make sure on the spot that all they keys on the keyboard work. Also, unless it's a model I've never seen, I don't buy if it's over $5 (or 5 euros here). My latest score is a spotless HP-42S for 50 cents: I'm mighty pleased with that one!

Anyhow, after 30-odd years collecting HP calculators - and unlike slide rules, I literally mean collecting, i.e. removing the batteries and storing them in a box - I want to catalog everything I have. So, one of these days when I have time, I'll do some rummage in my boxes in the attic, and I'm hoping you guys can help me identify exactly what I have in my collection - and what I should be looking for on this or that model. Most likely all I have is junk, but... who knows.

[pier4r]

Welcome!

(05-20-2018 11:23 AM)Rosco Wrote:  My latest score is a spotless HP-42S for 50 cents: I'm mighty pleased with that one!

I should visit flea markets more often. Also:
http://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-9594.html (most common calc in the forum, that I should update)

[BobVA]

Welcome Rosco!

Is it possible the Belgian flea market sellers are sending all their old baby strollers and crock pots to sellers here, in exchange for HP calculators? :-) I *never* see them!

A few years back they'd turn up regularly at ham fests (radio rallies / electronics-focused flea markets) particularly as government facilities dumped them as surplus, but not so much anymore.

I'm sure you'll get plenty of help identifying your HP's. The Museum has an extensive database of items and the DVD/USB documentation set offered for sale in the "gift shop" has manuals for many, many HP calculators and related devices. And of course post any questions you have!

[Rosco]

(05-20-2018 12:11 PM)pier4r Wrote:  I should visit flea markets more often. Also:
http://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-9594.html (most common calc in the forum, that I should update)

Ah yes, interesting. Well, here are a few of mine, if you want to add them:

HP-11C (in a black pouch)
HP-20 (in a black pouch)
HP-32SII (in a black pouch)
HP-35 (in a grey plastic case that also contains the wallwart)
HP-35S
HP-38G
HP-41CX (cream white and black keyboard, in a brown leather pouch with a manual in French inside)
HP-41CX (black and orange keyboard, with a card reader, in a brown leather pouch)
HP-42S
HP-48S
HP-48G
HP-48G (in a grey fabric pouch with a multilingual quick-reference guide inside, in the original box, complete with user's manual in French, initiation guide in French, HP handheld products accessory guide in English, and unopened nameplate kit thingy)
HP-48GX (with a manual in English)

I also have a "Software Kit Transfile WIN 48" accessory, which is essentially a serial cable for the 48G I believe, with an unopened CD-ROM, multilingual manual, in its original box. That thing ain't from HP though: it seems to come from a company called "Yellow Computing". I didn't crack it open, as I already have a DIY serial cable I made many years ago.

I have more HP paraphernalia in the attic, but that's just what I could locate easily without turning the entire house upside down

I bought everything at flea markets for $5 or less (more often less) in the various countries I've lived in. I only bought the HP-48GX new (it was my faithful companion when I was a student in the 90s) and the HP-35S, which I hoped would be the revival of HP RPN calculators, but the purchase of which I immediately regretted.

(05-20-2018 01:12 PM)BobVA Wrote:  Is it possible the Belgian flea market sellers are sending all their old baby strollers and crock pots to sellers here, in exchange for HP calculators? :-) I *never* see them!

Well, what happens here is, most flea market sellers are professionals. They usually get their wares by raiding old folks' houses: they get called by callous people whose parents have recently passed away, or have been parked in a retirement home to die there more slowly instead. All these people care about is that the house of their relatives be emptied quickly so they can sell it asap, regardless of what's inside. The flea market traders are happy to come and do that for free. Then they turn around and resell anything that has value at the various flea markets in the area, in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

Very often, they raid retired engineers' houses. That's how sliderules, addiators and calculators turn up at flea markets. Those things were the engineers' tools when they worked, that they kept and treasured after they retired. Usually, the flea market sellers have no idea what they are or what they're worth: they're more interested in atrocious 60s furniture, lampshades, walking frames and electric wheelchairs. That's how I get them so cheap - although, after years of trying to look uninterested, but eagerly buying the same items over and over from the same sellers, I think they're starting to suspect there's a collector's market for them.

For years, I could find several sliderules in a single market for very cheap. Now they're getting rare, and old calculators are turning up more and more often. I guess a new generation of engineers is starting to kick the bucket - those engineers that are more used to electronic rather than analog calculators...

(05-20-2018 01:12 PM)BobVA Wrote:  I'm sure you'll get plenty of help identifying your HP's. The Museum has an extensive database of items and the DVD/USB documentation set offered for sale in the "gift shop" has manuals for many, many HP calculators and related devices. And of course post any questions you have!

Thanks! As soon as I have time, I'll do a complete inventory.

[ijabbott]

Welcome!

(05-20-2018 11:23 AM)Rosco Wrote:  I only collect HP calculators on the side, because I have a sweet spot for em since my university days: I buy them when I occasionally find them on a flea market stall, only if they're in reasonable condition, and whenever possible, only if I can make sure on the spot that all they keys on the keyboard work. Also, unless it's a model I've never seen, I don't buy if it's over $5 (or 5 euros here). My latest score is a spotless HP-42S for 50 cents: I'm mighty pleased with that one!

I guess the sellers don't really know what they have. They just see an ancient-looking calculator, don't really recognise the reputation or value of HP calculators. I'm not sure it would work in the UK were all the car-boot sellers and charity shops are quite eBay-savvy these days.

[Rosco]

(05-20-2018 12:11 PM)pier4r Wrote:  http://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-9594.html (most common calc in the forum, that I should update)

Oh, I forgot: since you also list non-HP calculators, I also have a Sharp PC-1402.