HP32Sii date... Or Frankenstein model?

[Boub65]

Hello all,
I have an HP32Sii that says "Made in USA" serial 3048A30664 (so it means very end of 1990 + corrected the 5 last digits).

I've read that they only started production in 1991.

It has the fraction bugs and the self-test highlights the "0" (zero) annonciator when completed.

It is is pristine condition, so no visible marks of any mods.

Is it possible? Or has it been repared at some point in time and the back replaced?

[Steve Simpkin]

It is likely just a very early production unit. If you look at the earliest HP calculator serial numbers on this site (see below), it was common for HP manufacturing to build up stock of a model before it was announced. Your's is earlier than the earliest HP-32SII listed here (3103) but it may just be what it seems and is now the new earliest serial number reported.

https://www.hpmuseum.org/collect.htm#numbers

[rprosperi]

It's almost certainly genuine and having a mfg. date earlier than formal introduction date (March '91) is not unusual, in fact if you think about it, it's actually necessary. By the 90's, a model's "introduction" meant that it was announced as available for purchase now, and often included some availability and source information, such as "...available now from EduCALC, Elek-Tek and College Bookstores...".

It took weeks to months for a device to be shipped from factory to HP warehouse, warehouse to distributor, distributor to dealer's warehouse, warehouse to individual stores, etc.

Presence of the early bugs and self-test add confidence to the conclusion that you acquired one of the earliest Nardos manufactured. While there is no fortune coming your way if you were to offer it for sale, it is relatively rare as the vast majority of the 32SII's had the later ROM.

[Boub65]

Here are some pictures for the archives...
Looking at the serial closer it's 30664 ! (and not 3066, sorry for the confusion)
May be they took the back from the HP32S production lines?