HP 35 - Buggy ROM but late version case ...

[KUrben]

Hi,

I have just bought my first HP-35, and it works!

I am confused about which version I have - here are the details:

1) Buggy ROM - has all the well-known bugs including 2.02 ln e^x = 2.0
2) Has function names embossed on the keys - not on the case.
3) Front label says HEWLETT.PACKARD 35
4) Key 5 has the bump
5) No red dot on the power switch.
6) Rear label says "Made in the USA"
7) Serial number is 1143A 33435

Points 2 and 3 indicate a late version - but the other points indicate an early version (I think).

The calculator is in fairly good condition and has the battery pack - there is no obvious sign that is has been made from two calculators! ...

I thought HP fixed the ROM bugs before the version with embossed function keys! Any thoughts?!

[Jeff O.]

(07-08-2014 02:55 PM)KUrben Wrote:  Hi,

I have just bought my first HP-35, and it works!

I am confused about which version I have - here are the details:

1) Buggy ROM - has all the well-known bugs including 2.02 ln e^x = 2.0
2) Has function names embossed on the keys - not on the case.
3) Front label says HEWLETT.PACKARD 35
4) Key 5 has the bump
5) No red dot on the power switch.
6) Rear label says "Made in the USA"
7) Serial number is 1143A 33435

Points 2 and 3 indicate a late version - but the other points indicate an early version (I think).

The calculator is in fairly good condition and has the battery pack - there is no obvious sign that is has been made from two calculators! ...

I thought HP fixed the ROM bugs before the version with embossed function keys! Any thoughts?!

So you are saying that the front looks like this, correct?:



Points 1, 4 and 7 "point" to it being an early version 2. Is the back label intact, or have the upper left and right corners been poked or peeled to get at the screws below? Based on the information provided, it sounds like someone transplanted the top half of the shell and the keys of a version 4 onto a version 2.

[KUrben]

Thanks for your reply.

Yep - that's how it looks externally (though not as clean ...)

If the rear label was removed someone did a good job of replacing it. One corner had some damage but not near the screws. Otherwise it looks ok.

However, given the ROM bugs it does seem somebody did a bit of a transplant!

[TASP]

Back in the 'day' could it have been returned to HP for repair? Might explain the professional fit and finish of an apparently hinky parentage, LOL!

I had a Commodore SR1400 in that time frame, and it had some problems and they fixed it instead of replacing it. IIRC, the repair on the SR1400 was done by an authorized dealer.

[tsb]

I just found something similar - a buggy ROM in a Version 4 case. The original serial number tag was installed on the new case. Serial number is 1143A 04273. I think that it is a recased red dot based upon the serial number.