Serial numbers format question

[Didier Lachieze]

I was looking at the HP 29C Service Manual when I noticed something unusual regarding the serial number format.

HP calculators serial numbers from the HP 35 to the Pioneers and 48 family are documented on the hpmuseum (Decoding Serial Numbers) as following the format below:

Code:

Numbers are in the format YYWWC##### where 
YY     Is the number of years since 1960. 
WW     Is the week (roughly) in which the unit was made. YYWW is not always exact 
       and sometimes may have gone weeks or months without changing. 
C      Is the country code: A = America (USA), B = Brazil, G = Germany, J = Japan, 
       S = Singapore, M = Malaysia or Indonesia. 
#####  The serial number within the specified week and year.

However, in the HP 29C Service Manual, the serial number format documented is YYMMC#####.

Note the MM (Month Manufactured) instead of WW for the week.

I did a quick check on my calculators and the ones I could find on-line, and indeed I noticed that:

• In 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974 the serial numbers include non-consecutive Week numbers (up to 50 for the HP 45: 1350A#####)
• In 1975, 1976 and 1977 the serial numbers seem to include the Manufactured Month documented in the 29C Service Manual, as the MMs I've found are all between 01 and 12
• In 1978 and beyond the serial numbers go back to include a Week number after the two digits for the Year with WW greater than 12.
  

So I would like to ask you some help to confirm the serial number format used in 1975, 1976 and 1977: do you have any HP calculator in your collection with a serial number starting by 15, 16 or 17 and with the 2 following digits greater than 12, indicating it could be a week number rather than a month number?

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(05-27-2020 01:29 PM)Didier Lachieze Wrote:  I was looking at the HP 29C Service Manual when I noticed something unusual regarding the serial number format.

HP calculators serial numbers from the HP 35 to the Pioneers and 48 family are documented on the hpmuseum (Decoding Serial Numbers) as following the format below:

Code:

Numbers are in the format YYWWC##### where 
YY     Is the number of years since 1960. 
WW     Is the week (roughly) in which the unit was made. YYWW is not always exact 
       and sometimes may have gone weeks or months without changing. 
C      Is the country code: A = America (USA), B = Brazil, G = Germany, J = Japan, 
       S = Singapore, M = Malaysia or Indonesia. 
#####  The serial number within the specified week and year.

However, in the HP 29C Service Manual, the serial number format documented is YYMMC#####.

Note the MM (Month Manufactured) instead of WW for the week.

I did a quick check on my calculators and the ones I could find on-line, and indeed I noticed that:

• In 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974 the serial numbers include non-consecutive Week numbers (up to 50 for the HP 45: 1350A#####)
• In 1975, 1976 and 1977 the serial numbers seem to include the Manufactured Month documented in the 29C Service Manual, as the MMs I've found are all between 01 and 12
• In 1978 and beyond the serial numbers go back to include a Week number after the two digits for the Year with WW greater than 12.
  

So I would like to ask you some help to confirm the serial number format used in 1975, 1976 and 1977: do you have any HP calculator in your collection with a serial number starting by 15, 16 or 17 and with the 2 following digits greater than 12, indicating it could be a week number rather than a month number?

I believe you could be right:
1505A 1506S 1508S 1509A 1509S 1511S
1603S 1604A 1604S 1604S 1605S 1606S 1608A 1609A 1611S
1702A 1704S 1706A 1706A 1707S 1709S

[rprosperi]

Indeed, all of my Woodstocks (including 67's) and a 65 have MM codes between 01-12. Other classic models are not easily accessible at this time, but I'll check when I can get to them.

Nice catch Didier, thanks for sharing this.

[mfleming]

1511A (25), 1602A (80), 1702A (21), 1711A (29C)

[Archilog]

C'est une révolution !
Nice discovery, Didier.

[Dave Britten]

My 25 is 1601, my 65 is 1333, my 80 is 1604, and my 45 is 1350. That seems consistent with the observations so far.

[badaze]

HP 55 => 1504
HP 65 => 1512
HP 29C => 1711
HP 25 => 1701

Edit. Of course it was not HP 26.

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(05-30-2020 08:44 AM)badaze Wrote:  HP 26 =>

Need one of those!

[aurelio]

(05-30-2020 10:16 AM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  

(05-30-2020 08:44 AM)badaze Wrote:  HP 26 =>

Need one of those!

if you get one I can exchange it with a 67cx

[Jake Schwartz]

(05-30-2020 03:52 PM)aurelio Wrote:  

(05-30-2020 10:16 AM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  Need one of those!

if you get one I can exchange it with a 67cx

I thought that was the desktop printing version of the HP25 :-)
Jake