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Eddie W. Shore · 08-08-2021, 03:31 AM

Happy Birthday, HP 12C!

https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/happy-40t...alculator/

Steve Simpkin · (This post was last modified: 08-08-2021 04:01 AM by Steve Simpkin.)

Regarding the Voyager series calculators. "HP began designing a new CPU called Saturn and series of calculators to follow the HP-41C but these designs became quite complex so they designed another series of midrange calculators based on improved HP-41C technology as a 'short-term' measure."

Although the HP-11C and HP12C members of the HP Voyager family were formally introduced for sale in 1981, the earliest production examples of these two models were manufactured in late 1980. Thus the HP-12C has been in continuous production for almost 41 years now. The internal hardware has changed over the decades but the HP-12C you can purchase new today has the exact same functionality as the one introduced in 1981 and is running the same 41 year old core firmware code (via emulation). Not bad for a "short-term" product.

I just recently changed the 3 silver oxide batteries on my 1987 HP-12C. I suspect I will no longer be on this Earth when they need to be changed again.

HP67 · (This post was last modified: 08-18-2021 12:32 AM by HP67.)

I bought mine in 1985 on the way to buy a car. It paid for itself when I amortized the terms before signing the contract! I got them to rewrite it on the spot and saved a few thousand bucks over life of loan.

Gamo · 08-18-2021, 12:49 AM

Long live the HP-12C

Gamo

Jake Schwartz · 08-18-2021, 01:08 PM

Back ten years ago around the time of the 30th anniversary, they were saying that the 12C was the longest-lived consumer electronics product. Being that it is still being sold, that assertion lives on for sure.
Jake

**Gene** · 08-18-2021, 07:04 PM

That was when you and I attended the HP 12c "press conference" on Wall Street.

This year will be crickets.

HP67 · 10-23-2021, 07:30 PM

I wanted another 12C since I'm working in a foreign country these last years and the one I bought in the 1980s is in my other apartment.

I found a NOS 3 battery Malaysian for 42 bucks and paid 56 bucks for shipping and taxes. I'm pretty excited about it. Still haven't opened the package, I'll take pics in the next coupla days.

BruceH · 10-23-2021, 08:46 PM

(08-18-2021 07:04 PM)Gene Wrote: That was when you and I attended the HP 12c "press conference" on Wall Street.

This year will be crickets.

Take your choice: crickets or the sound of collectors groaning "Not another anniversary edition 12C to collect..."

;-)

**rprosperi** · 10-23-2021, 09:02 PM

(10-23-2021 08:46 PM)BruceH Wrote:
(08-18-2021 07:04 PM)Gene Wrote: That was when you and I attended the HP 12c "press conference" on Wall Street.

This year will be crickets.

Take your choice: crickets or the sound of collectors groaning "Not another anniversary edition 12C to collect..."

;-)

You took the words right out of my wallet... um... mouth.

Massimo Gnerucci · 10-23-2021, 09:20 PM

(10-23-2021 08:46 PM)BruceH Wrote:
(08-18-2021 07:04 PM)Gene Wrote: That was when you and I attended the HP 12c "press conference" on Wall Street.

This year will be crickets.

Take your choice: crickets or the sound of collectors groaning "Not another anniversary edition 12C to collect..."

;-)

Yep, not another one, please!
:-(

Ren · 10-24-2021, 02:00 AM

Having bought my 12C about a dozen years ago for $2 at Goodwill, I guess I'm negatively biased by the asking prices for them on TAS.
I get the feeling some of the sellers are thinking, "HP calculators are hot items for collectors! I'm gonna get rich selling this beater!"
B^)

HP67 · 10-28-2021, 09:23 PM

Opened the packaging this evening. This is a really nice find. I got what they showed in the ad picture. 3 battery 12C, even comes with a dead tree manual. Batteries are still good 20 or so years later. I believe the keys are doubleshot but my eyes are not good enough to be sure.

It's odd, but the slip on case does not want to go on, it's really tight. I'm wondering if it shrank from being left in the sun.

Liamtoh Resu · 10-28-2021, 10:59 PM

I received two hp-12c lr44 era calculators. Meant to order only one.

They both work fine. My wife likes her new used HP-12c.

They are not cosmetically perfect. One was made in the usa--the hp logo
is worn a bit. The other has someone's initials on it.

The hp-12c is usefull for balancing the checkbook register.

Cheers.

DaveBr · 10-29-2021, 02:15 PM

(10-28-2021 09:23 PM)HP67 Wrote: Opened the packaging this evening. This is a really nice find. I got what they showed in the ad picture. 3 battery 12C, even comes with a dead tree manual. Batteries are still good 20 or so years later. I believe the keys are doubleshot but my eyes are not good enough to be sure.

It's odd, but the slip on case does not want to go on, it's really tight. I'm wondering if it shrank from being left in the sun.

Nice find! I have a NOS 12C in the box I haven't opened yet. If my wife's 12C (USA) ever peters out, it will be hers.

Dave

HP67 · 10-30-2021, 06:53 PM

(10-29-2021 02:15 PM)DaveBr Wrote:
(10-28-2021 09:23 PM)HP67 Wrote: Opened the packaging this evening. This is a really nice find. I got what they showed in the ad picture. 3 battery 12C, even comes with a dead tree manual. Batteries are still good 20 or so years later. I believe the keys are doubleshot but my eyes are not good enough to be sure.

It's odd, but the slip on case does not want to go on, it's really tight. I'm wondering if it shrank from being left in the sun.

Nice find! I have a NOS 12C in the box I haven't opened yet. If my wife's 12C (USA) ever peters out, it will be hers.

Dave

Yes, I was very happy to find it. I wasn't expecting to be able to get another 3 battery model. My first one is 36 years old and shows no signs of retirement.

I suppose you and your wife will have to hang the package over the fireplace for your grandkids or great grandkids to see what a calculator is!

vaklaff · 10-31-2021, 09:25 AM

(10-29-2021 02:15 PM)DaveBr Wrote: Nice find! I have a NOS 12C in the box I haven't opened yet. If my wife's 12C (USA) ever peters out, it will be hers.

Is it safe to keep it that way? I mean, won't the cells leak at some point?

HP67 · 10-31-2021, 02:29 PM

(10-31-2021 09:25 AM)vaklaff Wrote:
(10-29-2021 02:15 PM)DaveBr Wrote: Nice find! I have a NOS 12C in the box I haven't opened yet. If my wife's 12C (USA) ever peters out, it will be hers.

Is it safe to keep it that way? I mean, won't the cells leak at some point?

You can see from the pics of the package I showed above that the batteries are in a separate compartment. My package was sealed 20 or so years ago and the batteries are perfectly fine. I'm using them in the calculator now. I think most if not all of the shrink-wrapped HP calculators I bought over the years had the batteries separated properly from the calculator.

vaklaff · 10-31-2021, 03:10 PM

(10-31-2021 02:29 PM)HP67 Wrote: You can see from the pics of the package I showed above that the batteries are in a separate compartment.
...

Right you are, sir!

Sigh, I looked at those pictures with the only intent to check if the cell were separate and I overlooked them. Of course, now I can see them just fine. Sorry for the noise...

DaveBr · (This post was last modified: 10-31-2021 04:04 PM by DaveBr.)

(10-31-2021 09:25 AM)vaklaff Wrote:
(10-29-2021 02:15 PM)DaveBr Wrote: Nice find! I have a NOS 12C in the box I haven't opened yet. If my wife's 12C (USA) ever peters out, it will be hers.

Is it safe to keep it that way? I mean, won't the cells leak at some point?

Good question! I personally have never, ever had a button cell battery leak (knock on wood). Since I don't intend on selling this 12C, I cut the packing tape sealing the flap end of the box and inspected the calculator. It was made in the USA in 1988, with the serial# 2808A545XX. It turned on with the original batteries (amazing) and the keys feel great. I removed the batteries and stuck them to a small length of tape. Back in the box it goes.

Quote:I suppose you and your wife will have to hang the package over the fireplace for your grandkids or great grandkids to see what a calculator is!

My grandkids are very familiar with my "nerd boxes" (their words, not mine). My 41CX and a 27S are on the end table beside my usual sitting place. My wife's 12C (USA SN# 2151AXX... is on a corner of the kitchen counter.
My 6 yr old grandson even understands how to do simple addition using RPN.
Dave