The Museum of HP Calculators

HP Forum Archive 04

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Blanknut Question - Hewlett Packard Label
Message #1 Posted by Mike Davis on 24 Nov 2000, 9:08 p.m.

I have a blanknut that is missing a label on the front. I don't know if there is supposed to be one or not. It is a CV version.

But there is a label, on the back, that says Hewlett Packard that is just exactly the size of the missing label on the front.

This "Hewlett Packard" label on the back is just above the two bottom feet and below the normal label. I wonder if this is supposed to be on the front.

Is there a label on the front of a blanknut that says "Hewlett Packard"

Also, something else I notice. The keyboard layout cheat label on the back has a different orientation than on my other HP41CV. On the blanknut the top of this cheat sheet label it to the right. On my 41CV the top is to the left when you look at the back.

Finally, and maybe worst of all, it looks like the original key background might have been removed and the blank keyboard template was glued down to fake a blanknut. It is obvious that there are tabs that extend into the template holes. There is only one piece of material but should there be tabs protruding into the tab holes on the blank background?

On my HP41CV, the key background is just a piece of material glued to the keyboard, WITHOUT the appearance of any tabs.

What does a real blanknut look like?

      
Re: Blanknut Question - Hewlett Packard Label
Message #2 Posted by db (martinez, california) on 25 Nov 2000, 1:58 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Mike Davis

mike; my blanknut cx has a label on the bottom front. it says "hp hewlett.packard". the text editor cheat label is oriented the same as on my old fasioned cx. the background is the same type as the cx, minus all writing, and as you said; without tabs. i think the telling feature of a blanknut is that the flat faces of the top four rows of keys have no labeling. am i missing something? would someone want to fake a blanknut? mine always seemed a pain till i painted stuf on thoes keys. wish i could have got my lettering smaller. btw; i think mine was the brain of some kind of machine control system.

            
Re: Bogus Blanknut - How to spot
Message #3 Posted by Mike on 25 Nov 2000, 10:47 a.m.,
in response to message #2 by db (martinez, california)

Here are a couple of other details.

1) There is a serial number

2) There was a minute trace of redish powder in the nooks and crannies. Polishing compound comes to mind.

3) The keys ARE blank where they should be blank. But I did a detailed inspection of the keys and every keytop that is blank has some microscopic horizontal streaks. Very minor and you have to look really close.

4) Again, the overlay (keyboard background) simply looks like a blank overlay that was glued down. Not on top of another label but maybe the original label was removed and a blank label placed there instead. You can see the tabs that would ordinarily go into the slots. I would have expected the real overlay to "NOT" have tabs visible.

5) The odd thing is that there appears to be a "real" blanknut label that says "HP Hewlett Packard". But it is stuck on the back.

If it is bogus, someone did a real nice job. Are there any fool-proof ways to determine if it is real or bogus?

      
Re: Blanknut Question - Hewlett Packard Label
Message #4 Posted by Iqbal on 25 Nov 2000, 5:15 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Mike Davis

Here is a photo of a HP 41C blanknut:

http://www.hpmuseum.org/41opt001.jpg

According to Wlodek Mier-Jedrzjowicz [Ph.D] in his book 'A guide to HP handeld Calculators and Computers' and I quote him,

" Blanknut HP-41's had a blank overlay, and no writing on the function keys, though I have seen one that has writing keys, but a blank overlay. They had a small bar covering up the USER and PRGM toggle keys. Blanknuts were supposed to have had no serial number, but again, I have seen one with a serial number - though this may have been a demonstration unit, not one sold to customers." He goes on to say and I quote again " I have never heard of Blanknut HP-41 units being made in the halfnut version, and would be very interested to see or hear of one".

If you are a collector or starting out as a collector, I strongly suggest you purchase a copy of this book. It has a wealth of information, even a little part on calculator restoration. I have a copy and have really learnt a lot from it.

      
Re: Blanknut Question - Hewlett Packard Label
Message #5 Posted by JoeB on 25 Nov 2000, 7:22 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Mike Davis

Sounds like you are the proud owner of a bogus blanknut. Perhaps you should have asked more questions before you bought it.

            
Re: Not sure what one could have asked to determine
Message #6 Posted by Mike on 25 Nov 2000, 10:40 a.m.,
in response to message #5 by JoeB

if this was a bogus. I would have thought it would not have been worth the trouble.

      
Re: Blanknut Question - Hewlett Packard Label
Message #7 Posted by Dave Hicks on 25 Nov 2000, 1:45 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Mike Davis

I haven't seen a blanknut where the keypad background has tabs. I have seen them with and without a front/bottom "HP Hewlett-Packard" label, with and without a bar over the USER and PRGM buttons and with and without a keyboard cheats label on the back. The ones without the label have "MADE IN SINGAPORE" printed in silver directly onto the plastic in the label area.

      
A question for all Blanknut owners
Message #8 Posted by Mike on 26 Nov 2000, 9:08 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Mike Davis

Does your blank keyboard background have tabs extending into the tab holes?

Do tabs indicate a fake Blanknut?

            
Re: A question for all Blanknut owners
Message #9 Posted by Victor on 27 Nov 2000, 4:15 a.m.,
in response to message #8 by Mike

Mine does not have tabs that extend into the tab holes. It has a serial number, does not have a black bar covering the USER and PRGM keys, and has a label on the back identical to the one on my 41-C.

            
Re: A question for all Blanknut owners
Message #10 Posted by Don Williams on 27 Nov 2000, 8:03 p.m.,
in response to message #8 by Mike

I have a blanknut 41CX with the following paticulars:

Tabs on the front keyboard template as you describe.

Dull dark grey keys with a circular blemish visible only under magnification. The circle is the diameter of the vertical height of the key. All my other 41 series calcs have dark black shiny keys.

Serial number indicates Singapore manufacture.

No bar over USER or PRGM keys.

Back label orientation identical to my regular 41 CX. However the Model ID HP-41CX on the blanknut appears in the bottom left corner of the label. On the normal 41CX the model appers on the lower right

                  
Re: A question for all Blanknut owners
Message #11 Posted by Peter Petersson (Germany) on 28 Nov 2000, 2:07 p.m.,
in response to message #10 by Don Williams

I checked my two blanknuts, and found some similar details:

The 41-CX blanknut halfnut (serial 2808S...) (which does not look manipulated) has the tabs on the bank template. The rear label is in place, but not placed exactly in place. It is the same label as on my other HP-41CX halfnut, with the text HP-41CX on the bottom left side. My fullnut CX has it on the right side. It has no bar over USER or PRGM keys, but it has the "hp Hewlett.Packard" label on the front side. And the color of the keys is somewhat different of the other HP-41's, very dark grey.

My HP-41CV balnknut has no bar over the USER or PRGM keys, it has a Singapore serial number, but the rear label is in the wrong orientation. It has no front label. The keys are black as on my other HP-41s.

Maybe the blanknut production was made off the normal production lines, mounting the blank keyboards with the other parts from the production line. This could explain why many blanknuts did not get a serial number. And think about a blanknut in a hp repair facility, they could have exchanged parts for a repair.


[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Go back to the main exhibit hall