The Museum of HP Calculators

HP Forum Archive 21

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Double-shot Molded Keys
Message #1 Posted by Jeff Dinkins on 22 Apr 2012, 5:12 p.m.

Perhaps a silly question, but is there a list somewhere of which models have double shot molded keys vs. painted keys? Woodstock, Spice, 41-series, 48-series, etc. In the case of long running models (12c, 48) was there a specific year when they switched?

      
Re: Double-shot Molded Keys
Message #2 Posted by Walter B on 22 Apr 2012, 5:31 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Jeff Dinkins

Classics, Woodstocks, Spices, 41C's all have double shot molded keys AFAIK. Older Voyagers, Pioneers, and 48's too. Younger Voyagers, Pioneers, and 48's don't. Can't tell you a year though.

      
Re: Double-shot Molded Keys
Message #3 Posted by Thomas Radtke on 23 Apr 2012, 6:37 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Jeff Dinkins

It's probably a matter of the facility in which the calculator has been produced. E.g., US and Singapore Pioneers had double injection keys, while Indonesian Pioneers had painted keys.

            
Re: Double-shot Molded Keys
Message #4 Posted by Randy on 23 Apr 2012, 7:39 a.m.,
in response to message #3 by Thomas Radtke

Not so easy to tie to a facility, it's all about date of manufacture. Some pioneers and 48's made late in the Singapore run did have painted keys.

FWIW, 42's were not part of this change over, as production of them stopped in 1995. The last batches of service spares built in 2001, in Indonesia, had molded keys. So, they were either built from molded parts already on hand or the molds moved to Indonesia. I suspect it was from parts remaining in inventory.

Also, with very few exceptions, the 10/11/15/16C models had molded keys. Only here in the museum was it documented that some late production units had "painted over" keys, where double shot keys were painted black and then relabeled with a new function. The 12C gold classic has had painted keys for a long time, beginning with production in Malaysia.

Edited: 23 Apr 2012, 7:44 a.m.

      
Re: Double-shot Molded Keys
Message #5 Posted by Eric Rechlin on 23 Apr 2012, 7:19 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Jeff Dinkins

If I had to guess I would say around 1997-1998. In the case of the 48, it was when production switched from Singapore to Indonesia.

Eric


[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Go back to the main exhibit hall