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Voyager Sighting (not the space probe)
07-30-2019, 10:34 PM (This post was last modified: 07-30-2019 10:36 PM by Matt Agajanian.)
Post: #1
Voyager Sighting (not the space probe)
Hi all.

While watching 50 Facts You Didn't Know About The Big Bang Theory I noticed something so familiar...a Voyager series calc. Although I couldn’t make out the exact model, I did notice that familiar faceplate. Yup! It seems The Big Bang Theory’s science consultant, David Saltzberg is an HP calc user.

Pay close attention to the video between 5:44 until 5:48. You’ll be as surprised as I was.
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07-30-2019, 10:50 PM
Post: #2
RE: Voyager Sighting (not the space probe)
It seems to be more silver than goldish, so likely not a 12C. Also, there is a hint of both blue and yellow for the shift keys as the video moves, so likely not a 10C either. Whether it's an 11C, 15C or 16C, it's impossible to say.

Physics majors will insist he'd need a 15C for all the cosmological calculations related to the Big Bang, while being in Hollywood mostly precludes using a 16C IMHO, but who can say for sure...

Nice find, good eye spotting it, thanks for sharing.

--Bob Prosperi
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07-31-2019, 05:21 AM
Post: #3
RE: Voyager Sighting (not the space probe)
You’re welcome.
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07-31-2019, 01:22 PM (This post was last modified: 07-31-2019 02:23 PM by burkhard.)
Post: #4
RE: Voyager Sighting (not the space probe)
Since it's not an on-screen prop, but apparently an actual calculator used by the show's technical consultant (David Saltzberg, a physics and astronomy professor at UCLA), my guess is that it's most likely a 15C or perhaps an 11C.

And his professional bio at the university: http://www.physics.ucla.edu/~saltzberg/index.html
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08-01-2019, 12:45 PM (This post was last modified: 08-01-2019 12:46 PM by EdS2.)
Post: #5
RE: Voyager Sighting (not the space probe)
(07-30-2019 10:34 PM)Matt Agajanian Wrote:  Yup! It seems The Big Bang Theory’s science consultant, David Saltzberg is an HP calc user.

Pay close attention to the video between 5:44 until 5:48. You’ll be as surprised as I was.

What a great find! I reached out to David, and with his kind permission I quote his response:

Quote:Wow. That’s a really old clip. It’s from the very beginning of the first season and then I think it never got used because the show shut down for the 2007 writers’ strike. It’s pretty amusing but also creepy to realize everyone scanned my desk. It’s a good thing I didn’t have my passwords posted on a post it note. That was an 11C which sadly doesn’t work any more. I would like to buy another but they are pretty expensive on eBay. I didn’t program it as far as I recall. I did for my old TI-55. But I did use the statistics functions all the time. Thanks for the heads up. Pretty amusing. Best, David.
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08-01-2019, 07:24 PM
Post: #6
RE: Voyager Sighting (not the space probe)
Congrats on receiving an actual response from David. I’m guessing you’re excited to get an e-mail response. Excellent!!
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08-03-2019, 09:55 PM (This post was last modified: 08-03-2019 10:16 PM by Dave Frederickson.)
Post: #7
RE: Voyager Sighting (not the space probe)
In The Big Bang Theory, S08E16, the gang visits an escape room, the lab of the late Dr. David Saltzberg.



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08-04-2019, 11:07 AM
Post: #8
RE: Voyager Sighting (not the space probe)
Did you let him know about the Swiss Micros versions? I bet he’d appreciate them.
Best wishes,
Will

(08-01-2019 12:45 PM)EdS2 Wrote:  
(07-30-2019 10:34 PM)Matt Agajanian Wrote:  Yup! It seems The Big Bang Theory’s science consultant, David Saltzberg is an HP calc user.

Pay close attention to the video between 5:44 until 5:48. You’ll be as surprised as I was.

What a great find! I reached out to David, and with his kind permission I quote his response:

Quote:Wow. That’s a really old clip. It’s from the very beginning of the first season and then I think it never got used because the show shut down for the 2007 writers’ strike. It’s pretty amusing but also creepy to realize everyone scanned my desk. It’s a good thing I didn’t have my passwords posted on a post it note. That was an 11C which sadly doesn’t work any more. I would like to buy another but they are pretty expensive on eBay. I didn’t program it as far as I recall. I did for my old TI-55. But I did use the statistics functions all the time. Thanks for the heads up. Pretty amusing. Best, David.
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08-04-2019, 03:00 PM (This post was last modified: 08-04-2019 03:00 PM by ijabbott.)
Post: #9
RE: Voyager Sighting (not the space probe)
(08-01-2019 12:45 PM)EdS2 Wrote:  
(07-30-2019 10:34 PM)Matt Agajanian Wrote:  Yup! It seems The Big Bang Theory’s science consultant, David Saltzberg is an HP calc user.

Pay close attention to the video between 5:44 until 5:48. You’ll be as surprised as I was.

What a great find! I reached out to David, and with his kind permission I quote his response:

Quote:Wow. That’s a really old clip. It’s from the very beginning of the first season and then I think it never got used because the show shut down for the 2007 writers’ strike. It’s pretty amusing but also creepy to realize everyone scanned my desk. It’s a good thing I didn’t have my passwords posted on a post it note. That was an 11C which sadly doesn’t work any more. I would like to buy another but they are pretty expensive on eBay. I didn’t program it as far as I recall. I did for my old TI-55. But I did use the statistics functions all the time. Thanks for the heads up. Pretty amusing. Best, David.

I'm not sure how much is a reasonable price for an 11C in good working order, but I got one from eBay for £50 (about US$60) recently. So if you have the patience you can pick them up for a good price.

— Ian Abbott
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