Thread

HP-35 Calculator

68kMLA Troubleshooting 14 posts Jan 12, 2008 to Jan 14, 2008

#1 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 - 14:17 68kMLA

I found an HP-35 calculator in a computer recycling bin yesterday. I opened it up and cleaned the power on/off switch contacts, since the switch was a little finnicky yesterday. The calculator works perfectly, except for the fact that the power adapter's cable is a little loose. :\

Here's a few pics of it

http://iannixon.com/photos/hp-35-calculator/

#2 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 - 15:53 68kMLA

I like it.

Anything with curved and crooked traces on the circuit board is cool in my book.

#3 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 - 16:18 68kMLA

Your iBook is tainted with stickers!!!!

Oh and nice quackulator

#4 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 - 16:57 68kMLA

Your iBook is tainted with stickers!!!!

That's actually a MacBook, and it's not mine. I'm working on it for the weekend.

#5 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 - 17:48 68kMLA

Sweet!!! I have a 32S-II they're the best. You'll have to get used to the Reverse Polish Notation (RPN), but once you do it will be faster than using a regular calculator.

#6 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 - 20:04 68kMLA

Very cool - I really like LED calculators!

#7 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 - 20:20 68kMLA

Wow, very desirable and collectable I think, possibly made in Silicon Valley itself!

#8 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 - 06:11 68kMLA

Oh most definitely made in Si Valley -- it was the first scientific pocket calculator, made to fit in Bill Hewlett's pocket.

If you got one of the very first ones, it has a bug in its log routine. As the story goes, Dave Packard insisted on revealing the bug's existence as soon as possible, and offering a replacement. But many people chose to live with the bug (it's minor). Like misprinted postage stamps and currency, the buggy HP-35 has become a collector's item among collector's items.

#9 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 - 06:53 68kMLA

Wow. That bastard is worth a small fortune. Ten years ago, I had a hard time finding one for less than $200, and they've only gone up in value since then.

(Of course, what I really want is an HP-01. The ultimate in geek couture.

#10 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 - 17:15 68kMLA

HP-01, that looks like one awesome wristwatch

#11 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 - 18:18 68kMLA

cool, I recently inherited my Grandpa's Facit calc from the '60s. It has a nixy tube display!

#12 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 - 23:57 68kMLA

More info on the HP-35 at http://www.hpmuseum.org/hp35.htm .

Also, there is a product introduction writeup in the June 1972 issue of the Hewlett Packard Journal, available online from HP (caution, 4.6 MB pdf download) at http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1972-06.pdf .

#13 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 - 01:41 68kMLA

(Of course, what I really want is an HP-01. The ultimate in geek couture.

I've seen one of those at an old-time jeweler/watch shop and it must have been as late as the 1990s because I was amazed to see such a thing, still new old stock. Wouldn't it be a hoot if they still had it?

#14 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 - 02:05 68kMLA

(Of course, what I really want is an HP-01. The ultimate in geek couture.

Click to expand...

I've seen one of those at an old-time jeweler/watch shop and it must have been as late as the 1990s because I was amazed to see such a thing, still new old stock. Wouldn't it be a hoot if they still had it?

Well, they were expensive when new, and never went down in value...

I've seen them go on eBay for over $5000 'new in box', and even ones all alone, with no original accessories usually go for over $1000. (Hey, there's ones matching those descriptions right now! The 'lone' one has one $1000 bid, the one complete in box (but not 'new',) has no bids, with a minimum bid of $5000. That one may or may not sell.)