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HP Forum Archive 18

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HP-29C Prototype on Ebay
Message #1 Posted by Matthias Wehrli on 24 Nov 2008, 12:41 a.m.

What do you think on this?

Ebay Link

There is no serial number.
There is no AC cord.
There is no battery holder, or lid.
There are no rubber pads on the back.
There is no box or manuals.

These can all happens to a normal unit if parts get lost or are removed by hand.

      
Re: HP-29C Prototype on Ebay
Message #2 Posted by Walter B on 24 Nov 2008, 1:09 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Matthias Wehrli

Most strange is the interchange of (+) and (x). Doesn't make any sense at all. May easily happen during reassembly though.

      
Re: HP-29C Prototype on Ebay
Message #3 Posted by Michael Meyer on 24 Nov 2008, 7:59 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Matthias Wehrli

I'd need a lot more evidence to be convinced. It sure looks to have a standard Woodstock battery right there on the back. It has normal molded keys, so it's a production unit. Missing the charger and rubber feet means nothing, of course. The fact that it has a final faceplate rules out any kind of very early prototype.

All I see that is interesting is the lack of a serial number, but that plastic is easy to "melt" with solvents, etc.

I'd have to see if the keyboard has been disassembled. If the original heat stakes are there, then I might be more convinced that this was possibly an earlier prototype.....

      
Re: HP-29C Prototype on Ebay
Message #4 Posted by Randy on 25 Nov 2008, 7:56 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Matthias Wehrli

Add me to the "I'm not convinced" list as well. The exchanged keys means nothing toward making it a prototype, it happened more often than people think as I've seen more than one HP with exchanged keys.

IMO, it's nothing more than rejected production parts assembled into an employees take home calculator. Unless of course there is a photo of the circuit board and date codes on the IC's to ponder...


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