HP-12C "Gold"

[Keith Midson]

I just had a look through my collection database and I had a 28S and 19Bii manufactured in Indonesia. The 28S was manufactured in 1997, which is 5 years after discontinuation of this model?! The serial number was: ID73800361. The serial number of the 19Bii (for comparison) was ID03300191.

[rprosperi]

(10-05-2024 10:45 PM)Keith Midson Wrote:  Well done on the Indonesia search - you've just saved me some time!! Actually i've had a recently renewed interest in the 12C after reading this thread and acquiring some new ones for my collection. Some variants shown in the album here (which hasn't been updated in years sorry):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithmidso...586986282/

In terms of any HP manufactured in Indonesia, I was always of the opinion that the build quality wasn't as good as other locations. The only example I have is this one (32Sii comparisons):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithmidso...6354812528

Yes I can confirm that the China units were a dark grey, which shows up more in the lighting of the photograph. The Chinese manufactured 12C's in that photo were reasonably new at the time. I haven't purchased a 'new' 12C for a long time, but I think they are almost exclusively made in China now?

I agree, the build quality from Indonesia was a step down, however they did introduce the Black LCD for the 48GX and 48G+ there, and that was a huge step in the right direction, though the paint was still not great.

12C's were made only in China from ~2001(?) until about 2021/22, but then production shifted to Philippines and all recent HP models (lacking "HEWLETT PACKARD" on the face) appear to come from there, possibly excepting these new rogue 12C units, which have "Made in China" printed on the back. Reports on these new ones, despite the apparent bugs, indicate good build quality, but once again with the grey-ish keys,

[AnnoyedOne]

(10-05-2024 10:18 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  ...Unicorn turds really can be found if one looks lone and hard enough.

My brother claims that rocking horse turds are even rarer

As to HP-12C's made in Indonesia I have no clue.

BTW the "rogue" (Brazillian) HP-12C that dm319 has says "Made in China" on the back so the elongated % key could be old stock from a Chinese factory from 2008. Who knows?

Quote:I haven't purchased a 'new' 12C for a long time, but I think they are almost exclusively made in China now?

The latest HP-12C's (ARM based) are made in the Philippines by Moravia.

The HP-12C Platinum is made in China (except for a few early v2 ones that were made in the Philippines).

Then there's the "rogue" HP-12C "Made in China" units (x2 now) sold in Brazil. Different hardware and firmware. Its status is unknown.

https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-22313.html

A1

[dm319]

(10-05-2024 10:45 PM)Keith Midson Wrote:  Actually i've had a recently renewed interest in the 12C after reading this thread and acquiring some new ones for my collection. Some variants shown in the album here (which hasn't been updated in years sorry):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithmidso...586986282/

Lovely collection and great photos!!

Also, as A1 has also noticed, the Chinese HP-12c looks incredibly similar to the Rogue HP-12c. I'd say the typeface is identical. It's quite funny because a little while ago I was frantically trying to get a photo of a 12c bought in Canada with apparently similar '%' symbol, but it had succumbed to entropy. Good to see it would have looked the same.

[AnnoyedOne]

(10-06-2024 07:42 PM)dm319 Wrote:  ...the Chinese HP-12c looks incredibly similar to the Rogue HP-12c.

Yeah. That elongated % key has gotten around!

A1

[dm319]

(10-06-2024 07:48 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  Yeah. That elongated % key has gotten around!

I checked the other keys and they look very very similar too. The 'lachrymals' on the y of the x<>y is quite distinctive.

You don't think some weird firmware could be kicking around on this older Chinese 12c do you?

[AnnoyedOne]

(10-06-2024 07:56 PM)dm319 Wrote:  You don't think some weird firmware could be kicking around on this older Chinese 12c do you?

Possible but probably not or we'd know by now.

A1

[AnnoyedOne]

(10-05-2024 10:45 PM)Keith Midson Wrote:  Some variants shown in the album here...

Now I've seen the legendary "blue" HP-12C. And yes it's blue. Very blue.

A1