HP41 Fullnut - Halfnut, different shift functions for Alpha

[Papymouzot]

Hello,

I just noticed something which looks strange to me...

Look at the photo, three 41CX

left 2329S fullnut (white)
middle 2426S fullnut the Alpha shift functions are different (orange)
right 2640S halfnut, we are back to the 1983 keyboard layout (white)



two CV
left 2545S halfnut orange Alpha shift layout
right 2636S halfnut orange Alpha shift layout



two C

left 2020A fullnut (of course) orange Alpha shift layout
right 2153S fullnut orange alpha shift layout



if I recap by date I have

1980 orange
1981 orange
1983 white
1984 orange
1984 orange
1986 white

What was the reason for these different Alpha shift functions layouts ?

They seem inconsistent when looking to the serial numbers / dates ... why ?

[rprosperi]

There were no 41CX units made in 1980 or 1981, so if you have cx's with such s/n's, they were assembled by someone from parts or something similar. The early 41C (and maybe CV) units had the simpler style, without all the small text at the bottom.

And I believe original units were produced as follows:

41C/41CV: Gold labeling (these had the shifted Alpha Fns)
41CX: White labeling (these had the shifted text editor Fns)

And these colors also matched the color of the border around the keys on the front side.

But the above is just from memory and could be incomplete... and if so, the experts will embarrass me quickly enough.

[Sylvain Cote]

FYI, there was a discussion about a month ago on Silicium forum where some HP-41 back stickers were displayed → HERE

[Papymouzot]

(04-13-2024 11:25 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  There were no 41CX units made in 1980 or 1981, so if you have cx's with such s/n's, they were assembled by someone from parts or something similar. The early 41C (and maybe CV) units had the simpler style, without all the small text at the bottom.

And I believe original units were produced as follows:

41C/41CV: Gold labeling (these had the shifted Alpha Fns)
41CX: White labeling (these had the shifted text editor Fns)

And these colors also matched the color of the border around the keys on the front side.

But the above is just from memory and could be incomplete... and if so, the experts will embarrass me quickly enough.

Hi bob,

In my post I mention

1) three cx from 83, 84,86
2) two cv from 85 and 86
2) two c from 80 and 81

I never said I had cxs from 80 or 81

I understand better from your post why two of my cx have shifted "alpha" in white, this was for the text editor...

is it impossible to have normally a cx without the text editor "shifted alpha keys" ?

With regards to the white border on the keyboard side, I believe that only the 41C had it.

Charles

[Papymouzot]

(04-13-2024 01:09 PM)Sylvain Cote Wrote:  FYI, there was a discussion about a month ago on Silicium forum where some HP-41 back stickers were displayed → HERE

Hi Sylvain,

I understand now the difference in between the back label in between the C/CV (orange) and CX (white)

However, I don't understand why I have on a CX from 83(FN) and 86(HN) a white label and on a CX from 84(FN) I do have an orange label... Do you think that the back of the case has been changed ?

[Raymond Del Tondo]

(04-13-2024 03:51 PM)Papymouzot Wrote:  However, I don't understand why I have on a CX from 83(FN) and 86(HN) a white label and on a CX from 84(FN) I do have an orange label... Do you think that the back of the case has been changed ?

That's what's Bob indicated in post #2 ;-)

Actually I even have a HN CX from 1986 with 41CV front label.

The CX was missing the front label, and I had no spare CX label,
so I put a CV label in place, because it just looks better than no label at all;-)

[Papymouzot]

(04-13-2024 05:26 PM)Raymond Del Tondo Wrote:  

(04-13-2024 03:51 PM)Papymouzot Wrote:  However, I don't understand why I have on a CX from 83(FN) and 86(HN) a white label and on a CX from 84(FN) I do have an orange label... Do you think that the back of the case has been changed ?

That's what's Bob indicated in post #2 ;-)

Actually I even have a HN CX from 1986 with 41CV front label.

The CX was missing the front label, and I had no spare CX label,
so I put a CV label in place, because it just looks better than no label at all;-)

My English is probably not good enough for me to understand why you say that bob, in his reply, has answered my question. I didn't write that I had CX from 80 or 81. I enclosed a picture of two C from 80 and 81, The CX are from 83, 84 and 86.

I was unsure why the three cx didn't have a white label at the back. That was my question.

[Raymond Del Tondo]

If your 2426S fullnut in your first pic is a CX, either the back of the housing,
or the back label has been replaced by one of a non-CX.

[Papymouzot]

Thanks,

I understand better now.

I need to find a correct back case for this CX now ?. Or the correct label…

Charles

[rprosperi]

Not a problem, perhaps I could have written that reply was about the first units mentioned.

This topic is quite confusing enough without also adding in a language translation, so it is understandable how it can be hard to follow.

Glad you got it sorted out.

And while I would perhaps change the rear label, I would not open an old 41 to change the back, as that risks damage to the posts. We already know it has been opened at least once and each additional open increases the chance of further damage. Besides, they are a tiny bit more interesting as Frankencalcs.