HP Forum Archive 09

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Mechanical Self-opening calculator Message #1 Posted by Jo Page on 7 Nov 2002, 2:16 p.m. Hi all, Looking for help in purchasing a HP Mechanical self-opening lid calculator. Can't seem to find a location to buy one, although I've come across a few websites that have information on them. Your help would be much appreciated. Jo

Re: Mechanical Self-opening calculator Message #2 Posted by Jim L on 7 Nov 2002, 2:35 p.m., in response to message #1 by Jo Page Try the classifieds here or ebay. These things are marketing giveaway items that can be found with just about anyone's name on them. If you pick up one of the inflight magazines on your next trip you can probably find an order form to get one with any logo you want on it. There's usually a free sample offer. You can probably get HP's name since they probably don't check your identity. I mean how often does someone pay to advertise for someone else.

Re: Mechanical Self-opening calculator Message #3 Posted by glynn on 7 Nov 2002, 2:46 p.m., in response to message #2 by Jim L This is a "promotional product": as Jim says, a "giveaway". HP does not make them, so far as I can tell. You can order them (you must buy in quantity) from: http://www.bestimpressions.com/itfrom40.html and put your OWN name on them, logo or catchy phrase. It would seem to be a good marketing tool, though how good a calculator it is, I don't know. Actually, the Promotional products industry tries to avoid copyright infringing-- they can duplicate any artwork YOU supply, but then the onus of any backlash from the company infringed upon is often covered by an agreement holding the product maker harmless and you fully liable. So don't go off printing logos of companies you don't speak for.

I was probably being too flippant Message #4 Posted by Jim L on 7 Nov 2002, 3:08 p.m., in response to message #3 by glynn about getting HP's name on one made for you. I was thinking that no one would confuse one of these things with an actual HP product but you're right that a trademark is a trademark and protected anyway.

Re: I was probably being too flippant Message #5 Posted by Ron Ross on 7 Nov 2002, 3:28 p.m., in response to message #4 by Jim L Well, I suspect that only the NEW HP would promote itself with such a calculator (I have seen them) when they in fact made a Hp6s that could have also been given away as a promotional item for probably less. But some HP marketing genius (who might not even realize Hp is still in or EVEN WAS, in the calculator business) thought that giving away a cute little four function calculator was a great idea. Ironic and represenative of how things are at HP today. And the old Hp would sue your butt off for putting their name on such an item (for reasons of quality), the new Hp would also probably sue, but for the reasons that you might be dipping into their product share.

Re: I was probably being too flippant Message #6 Posted by Raymond Hellstern (Germany) on 8 Nov 2002, 6:14 p.m., in response to message #5 by Ron Ross In about 1990, the old HP let out a silver colored key clip, which has a small abacus on the other end, connected with rings, in between a silver colored plate with the Hewlett-Packard logo and letters. This abacus has 5 rows with 5 balls each. The text on the abacus frame said: "RECHNEN SIE MIT UNS" which has at least two meanings in German. 1. calculate with us (our products) 2. be aware of us (our products, etc..) This promotional item was given to people who bought a new HP-48 from W&W, andd maybe on some other occasions. It was announced as the smallest HP calculator ever made, only 3 * 2.5 * 0. centimeters, all pure metal. However, this promo item looked really nice! Raymond

Re: Mechanical Self-opening calculator Message #7 Posted by Paul Brogger on 8 Nov 2002, 2:05 p.m., in response to message #3 by glynn I found one of these (all black, no HP or other logo) in a clearance bin at a Staples store for $1.00 . I picked it up for my elementary school kid who likes gadgets. The smooth, easy swing of the cover up & away from the display looked really cool. Other than that, it's like any of the dime-a-dozen, rubber-keyed, drab, uninteresting four-function calculators that may be found anywhere. An HP giveaway model would be worth something to some of us as ironic/tragic commentary on the passing of "the good old days" -- as a calculator, however, I'd say it's essentially worthless.

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