You ask valid questions
Message #1 Posted by Mike on 15 Jan 2002, 2:38 p.m.
First, my bashers will disagree, regardless of what I say. So, by replying, I open myself up for further attacks. However, my interest is in informing people and you ask valid questions.
You ask:
In one of your responses below, I believe that you mentioned that you have a 67 in good condition with no label, and are waiting for a junk 67 with a good label that you can transplant. Therefore, you apparently feel it is OK to transfer an authentic HP label from one HP calculator to restore another. Does this feeling extend to swapping other parts among calculators?
My comment:
There is nothing wrong (in my opinion) with using original HP calculator parts. I say that because HP does or did use that practice themselves. Many of HP calculators have been returned for repair and came back with original (can't tell from original) replacement parts and/or labels. So, I find nothing wrong with that practice.
However, in my case, I never use for parts any calculator that can be salvaged. Calculators that I use for parts are ones that are beyond repair. The ones that I won't use for parts and won't sell, I use for myself.
I'd like to also point out that I have occasionally sold original (unopened) calculators that were defective (i.e. bad card reader) and listed them as such. I feel that a mintish (non-working) calculator is worth more to collectors, than a repaired version of the same. So, I offer these unrepaired, with the option to repair them, if the buyer wants. Most don't want them repaired.
So, I draw a line on what I will repair and what I will not. I never advertize any calculator as "original" if I have worked on it. The only time I use "original" is in reference to manuals, boxes, batteries, etc or if it is untouched, in my opinion.
Also, I consider it unethincal to swap a part from one type of calculator to make another type. For instance, it is fraud to take a 2nd version HP-35 and make a red dot out of it.
You ask:
Continuing with restoration practices, I have noticed (and admired) that the classic calculators you sell at eBay seem to always have beautiful keyboards. There is always a nice, smooth matte finish around the keys. The calculators I have purchased always seem to have smudges, scratches, shining, dulling, etc., which does not change when merely cleaned.
My comment:
As have I. I buy and sell a lot of calculators. I see what you see. Most are not what is expected. That is one of the reasons that mine go for more. I may have to buy 2 or 3 for every good one that I sell. This is especially true of HP-35 and HP-45. Some can be carefully cleaned. Others are given away. Some are scrapped for parts. My repeat customers know that they get a great calculator the first time. They buy 1 and get 1. I buy 3 and get 1.
You ask:
I have always wondered if you have developed some technique to restore dull, scratched keyboards, or if the calculators you come across are always in such good shape. If you restore them, do you use any foreign substances (like clear matte spray paint as suggested in the Steve Loboyko repair article) to achieve the final results?
My comment:
I do nothing but disassemble and clean the keys and contacts (if needed) and effect repair (if needed). I use only water and some mild hand soap. If they cannot be cleaned, I don't sell them. I don't use any sprays, abrassions (or even elbow-grease). I don't repaint or refinish anything. I only sell back those items that are premium condition either initially or after cleaning.
I have obtained some that look like they were burried in mud only to find that running a little water on the and using a little soap, cleans them right up. When I use the soap, I wash them by hand. I don't use any rags or cloth that can act as an abrasion.
Some feel that a calculator is better left uncleaned. I tend to agree with that. I don't wash and clean every calculator that I get. NOTE: I never wash with soap and water, without disassembly. It is too easy for water to get inside, if you don't
I once got an HP-35 that was so ugly. It was just covered with goop, to the point that the keys could not even be pushed down. I tossed it aside and was going to use it for parts. One day, I was looking for something to do and noticed the HP-35. I decided to take it apart and use it for parts. But first I thought I'd try washing it. Turned out that the gunk came right off and exposed a very nice keyboard. I then checked the serial number and found it was one of the oldest ever made and still had all the original bugs. That one turned out to be a jewel covered in mud.
You ask:
If you use a foreign substance, could you explain your reasoning about this being an acceptable restoration practice relative to preserving the originality?
My comment:
The only thing that I use that is not original, is the silicone tubing for repair of gummy wheel. I have once used a piece of wire to replace a botched repair job that someone did. They used solid copper wire and I replaced it with a piece of braided wire.
And, of course, I use non original batteries, when I repair a battery pack. But I do salvage the contacts and case from an original.
Everything else that I use is original HP parts from other scrapped (and hopeless) HP calculators.
My personal opinion is that HP Calculators should not be repainted or touched up. I find that a nice used calculator is nicer than a painted touched up calculator.
Of course, it is impossible to post everything about repairing or restoring HP calculators. But if you have any other questions, feel free to post here or send me an email. I use my real email address. And I do love helping other collectors.
Mike
| 
Go back to the main exhibit hall