HP Forum Archive 21

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Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #1 Posted by Namir on 5 June 2012, 8:15 p.m. Hi All, I would like to see one of the major cable channels, like History r Discovery, make a special episode about vintage calculators and current ones. It would be nice to interview HP and TI designers, and folks like Richard Nelson and other prominent ex-PPC members. Does anyone have contact information for cable channels that may be interested? Namir

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #2 Posted by Ethan Conner on 5 June 2012, 8:46 p.m., in response to message #1 by Namir Actually contacting a producer would be a good first step.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #3 Posted by db (martinez, ca.) on 5 June 2012, 9:00 p.m., in response to message #1 by Namir Quote: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Has anyone here even managed to interest his (or her) significant other or children in vintage calculators? I couldn't get other old surveyors to look at them if i didn't keep good beer in the fridge. On the other hand, they occasionally ask me to fix theirs.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #4 Posted by Katie Wasserman on 5 June 2012, 10:16 p.m., in response to message #3 by db (martinez, ca.) No. I think interest in vintage calculations (or any calculator for that mater) is genetic. Maybe when I sequence my DNA they'll find that gene :) Edited: 5 June 2012, 10:17 p.m.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #5 Posted by Eddie W. Shore on 7 June 2012, 9:36 a.m., in response to message #4 by Katie Wasserman Quote: No. I think interest in vintage calculations (or any calculator for that mater) is genetic. Maybe when I sequence my DNA they'll find that gene :) I may have not inhereited that gene from my parents, but I sure happy to have it. :)

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #6 Posted by Jeff Johnson on 7 June 2012, 3:36 p.m., in response to message #4 by Katie Wasserman Hey, since we're the backbone of the economy, laboring away and paying all those middle-class income taxes, maybe we could get our calculator addiction gene classified as a disease and go on government assistance and get some of our tax money back :o))

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #7 Posted by Egan Ford on 8 June 2012, 12:01 p.m., in response to message #4 by Katie Wasserman Quote: ... Maybe when I sequence my DNA they'll find that gene :) Ah yes, the rare "Wright" gene.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #8 Posted by Palmer O. Hanson, Jr. on 7 June 2012, 4:45 a.m., in response to message #3 by db (martinez, ca.) Quote: Has anyone here even managed to interest his (or her) significant other or children in vintage calculators? I couldn't get other old surveyors to look at them if i didn't keep good beer in the fridge. When I tell people that I used to work with that I have collected almost two hundred slide rules and over seven hundred calculators the most frequent response that I get is "Why?" Sometimes I get the response that they still have the one they used at work, couldn't bring themselves to throw it away, but I could make their wives happy by taking it off their hands and out of their house. I admit that I am a keeper and a saver. Who else still has * Their children's books from the 1930's * Their Boy Scout manual from the 1940's * Their Ohlsson and Rice 23 model aircraft engine from the 1940's * Two years of Model Airplane News and Air Trails from the 1940's * Their father's algebra and geometry books from the early 1900's And so on, on and on. Katie is correct. There really is a gene ...

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #9 Posted by Dave Shaffer (Arizona) on 7 June 2012, 2:02 p.m., in response to message #8 by Palmer O. Hanson, Jr. Quote: And so on, on and on. Katie is correct. There really is a gene ... I agree - I got it from my Father. My wife and mom occasionally exchange knowing glances while rolling their eyes!

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #10 Posted by Allen on 5 June 2012, 9:58 p.m., in response to message #1 by Namir Perhaps HP-Mania could be an interesting tangent for that A&E series on hoarders?

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #11 Posted by Katie Wasserman on 5 June 2012, 10:20 p.m., in response to message #10 by Allen I'd like to see a segment on How It's Made film the current HP calculator production line(s) in China.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #12 Posted by Nick R on 6 June 2012, 12:02 a.m., in response to message #11 by Katie Wasserman That might turn out to be a truly scary show.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #13 Posted by Katie Wasserman on 6 June 2012, 12:18 a.m., in response to message #12 by Nick R I'm sure.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #14 Posted by uhmgawa on 6 June 2012, 2:11 p.m., in response to message #12 by Nick R Quote: That might turn out to be a truly scary show. I don't think that to necessarily be true. It really depends on the degree of OEM involvement and control over the manufacturing process. For an enlightening if not entertaining account of a roughly analogous device, have a look here: Making the Chumby

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #15 Posted by Nick R on 7 June 2012, 9:49 a.m., in response to message #14 by uhmgawa I often watch 'How It's Made' episodes that were done in North American manufacturing plants. Perhaps it would be interesting to have a few filmed in Chinese factories and see their assembly processes from a different slant.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #16 Posted by db (martinez, ca.) on 5 June 2012, 11:13 p.m., in response to message #10 by Allen Allen; Since i don't have a TV, I've never seen hoarders but i just looked up the site and there's a guy that has about a hundred old computers. He wants to fix up a bunch to sell but also wants to keep one of each type for his own collection. This hits awfully close to home.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #17 Posted by LHH on 6 June 2012, 12:07 a.m., in response to message #16 by db (martinez, ca.) I'm the one in our family who (they claim) has at least one of everything. That's far from the truth but even 0.001% of everything is too much and I might be in or near that ballpark. But these days, with everything under the sun becoming a "collectable", I may still get the last laugh! Edited: 6 June 2012, 12:09 a.m.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #18 Posted by Matt Agajanian on 6 June 2012, 12:23 p.m., in response to message #10 by Allen Honestly, I think that the 'Hoarders' idea may put a bad light on HP calculator collectors. Even from the name, it already implies that collectors have an obsessive/compulsive disposition with no sense of balance or moderation. I think a show focused on technological or historical significance would present calculator collecting in a more positive light. Especially if Dave Hicks, Richard Nelson, Joerg Woerner, Gene Wright or someone else here is featured on the show. In terms of how significant the HP-35's development and release is in the history of calculators as well as its impact would make for more a relevant topic for 'Modern Marvels' or 'How It's Made.' Also, the HP-65 would also be a good springboard for a program segment on Programmable Calculators. To see how we've come from the HP-65 to the 41 to the 28/48/RPL and beyond would definitely be a progression of technical innovation worth a full hour on one of those shows. Edited: 6 June 2012, 11:48 p.m.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #19 Posted by Hal Bitton in Boise on 5 June 2012, 10:31 p.m., in response to message #1 by Namir Take the markings off of an HP35 and let PTV's History Detective take a crack at it.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #20 Posted by Matt Agajanian on 6 June 2012, 1:47 a.m., in response to message #1 by Namir Hi all It seems to me that the PERFECT show which should produce an episode on Vintage Calculators is History Channel's 'Modern Marvels.'

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #21 Posted by Alexander Oestert on 6 June 2012, 10:12 a.m., in response to message #1 by Namir Geir Isene once presented his collection on Norwegian TV if I recall correctly. You might find the link in the archives or get it from him.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #22 Posted by Namir on 6 June 2012, 10:19 a.m., in response to message #21 by Alexander Oestert I am interested to see if anyone in this forum has a contact with a cable channel that I can approach with the idea of doing an episode about calculators. Maybe the show can attend one of the HHC conferences too!!!! That will be really nice to show the fellowship we have that has been ongoing since the late 70s!!! Namir

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #23 Posted by Alexander Oestert on 6 June 2012, 11:49 a.m., in response to message #22 by Namir Do you think any station might be interested in producing a show that has all potential viewers appearing IN the show??? ;-)

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #24 Posted by Namir on 6 June 2012, 12:03 p.m., in response to message #23 by Alexander Oestert The trick is to make the program very interesting to the general viewers. Otherwise, videos on YouTube like the ones Eric Rechlin posted for HHC2011 will suffice.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #25 Posted by W. Bruce Maguire II on 6 June 2012, 5:12 p.m., in response to message #23 by Alexander Oestert Alexander: Quote: Do you think any station might be interested in producing a show that has all potential viewers appearing IN the show??? Your post was *just* what I was thinking! ;-) Bruce.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #26 Posted by Bill (Smithville, NJ) on 6 June 2012, 11:07 a.m., in response to message #1 by Namir Namir, A couple of site that might be of help to you: Collectors - TV show from Australia: Collectors Web site devoted to TV shows about Antiques, etc: Antique Online A few years ago, I saw a program that had a segment on people who collect Antique/Historic radios. But I don't remember the name of the program. Bill Edited: 6 June 2012, 11:08 a.m.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #27 Posted by Keith Midson on 6 June 2012, 5:04 p.m., in response to message #26 by Bill (Smithville, NJ) Collectors (Australia) did a segment of a guy who collects Soviet calculators a few years ago - I have a DVD of this segment, which did show an HP65 right near the end. I lived next door to one of the producers of this show and he we discussed having my collection on there - a production crew even came in to look at my collection at the office, but unfortunately the show was axed last year before they filmed anything. Cheers, Keith

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #28 Posted by David Tellet on 6 June 2012, 1:41 p.m., in response to message #1 by Namir I think the only way that the Discovery or History channel would be interested is if they thought the calculators were haunted. Or that Hitler owned a calculator store in Argentina after the war...and that the calculators were used to develop advanced weapons...and that the store was haunted. Don't get me wrong, it would be great to see a well done, informative show about this, but I just don't see that any American network would do it.

In the 6th Season of Mad Men... Message #29 Posted by Les Wright on 6 June 2012, 5:05 p.m., in response to message #28 by David Tellet ... Sterling Cooper Draper whoever-now-that-Pryce-is-dead goes after the prestigious HP 9100 account. In meetings, it turns out that an HP marketing executive was actually a wartime friend of the real Don Draper. Don is exposed as the identity thief and fraud he is, and much crisis ensues personally and professionally for all touched by this. I can't think of any other way to make calculators interesting to a general audience...

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #30 Posted by Bob Patton on 6 June 2012, 7:14 p.m., in response to message #1 by Namir Not highly relevant, but a History channel episode of Pawn Stars featured a Curta calculator. The shop owner popped it out of its case and did a calculation. Oh sure! Happens all the time.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #31 Posted by Johnny Bjoern Rasmussen on 7 June 2012, 3:14 a.m., in response to message #1 by Namir It have allready happened here in western Denmark as a local TV station came around to make an episode (in danish language) in a series about collecting strange stuff (as if collecting calculators are strange - come on, what are ya talking about?): Link Gee I look goofy and nerdy. Cheers! Johnny Edited: 7 June 2012, 3:22 a.m.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #32 Posted by hpnut on 7 June 2012, 7:25 a.m., in response to message #31 by Johnny Bjoern Rasmussen Go Johhny go! thanks for sharing, I watched it with great interest although I don't understand Danish. I wondered how many Danish viewers switched channels when this show was on? ;-) hpnut in Malaysia p.s. what is that watch you're wearing? a Suunto?

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #33 Posted by jonathan G harris on 7 June 2012, 8:48 a.m., in response to message #32 by hpnut I remember reading (on this site mostly) about the early days of the HP-35 and how it revolutionized how computations were performed in a myraid of professions versus the Slide Rule. How early calculators were kept out of enemy hands during the Cold War and the reasons behind that (that part would interest me alot) and how in the earlier days of NASA such calculators were deemed Mission Critical. As a nerdy engineer who just adores scientific/tech history (and history in general) that would be something really cool to watch and entertaining enough to keep some kids interested...

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #34 Posted by Johnny Bjoern Rasmussen on 7 June 2012, 9:25 a.m., in response to message #32 by hpnut Thanks hpnut in Malaysia. The watch I am wearing in the episode (as always) in my good old Timex Data Link 150 ;-) The day it will break down I simply wouldn't know what to do... Johnny

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #35 Posted by Mark Scheuern on 7 June 2012, 9:27 a.m., in response to message #32 by hpnut Quote: Go Johhny go! thanks for sharing, I watched it with great interest although I don't understand Danish. I wondered how many Danish viewers switched channels when this show was on? ;-) hpnut in Malaysia p.s. what is that watch you're wearing? a Suunto? So did I. I found myself turning up the volume which, it turns out, doesn't help me understand Danish any better. And I noticed the watch, too. Do vintage HP collecting and watch collecting go together?

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #36 Posted by Eddie W. Shore on 7 June 2012, 9:34 a.m., in response to message #1 by Namir Quote: Hi All, I would like to see one of the major cable channels, like History r Discovery, make a special episode about vintage calculators and current ones. It would be nice to interview HP and TI designers, and folks like Richard Nelson and other prominent ex-PPC members. Does anyone have contact information for cable channels that may be interested? Namir YES! YES! YES! This will be must see TV!

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #37 Posted by Mark Scheuern on 7 June 2012, 3:03 p.m., in response to message #36 by Eddie W. Shore Quote: YES! YES! YES! This will be must see TV! I'd love that, too, but unless someone claims the technology came from the saucer crash at Roswell, I suspect Discovery, The History Channel, and the like will have little interest these days.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #38 Posted by Donald Williams on 7 June 2012, 4:30 p.m., in response to message #1 by Namir Cable channels are only interested in Kim Kardashian and Snooky. Don't ask me who they are. I don't know. I guess if you could get them to narrate you would have a block buster show. Edited: 7 June 2012, 4:34 p.m.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #39 Posted by LHH on 7 June 2012, 4:53 p.m., in response to message #38 by Donald Williams I think all this would do is raise the prices of these old things to totally unreasonable levels (and they're already too high IMO). Those of us who actually enjoy using these old calcs would be priced out of the market.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #40 Posted by Donald Williams on 7 June 2012, 5:08 p.m., in response to message #39 by LHH Quote: I think all this would do is raise the prices of these old things to totally unreasonable levels (and they're already too high IMO). Those of us who actually enjoy using these old calcs would be priced out of the market. That must mean I am way ahead of the rest of you. I got priced out of the market 9 years ago.

Re: Can We Get a Cable Channel Interested in Vintage Calculators? Message #41 Posted by LHH on 7 June 2012, 5:33 p.m., in response to message #40 by Donald Williams Not really, it's already too rich for my blood now too! Luckily I have a few I picked up years ago but there are a few more I would love to have if they weren't so expensive. I guess it's great for a few collectors but it makes no sense to spend so much money for these old calculators, many of which are quirky or underpowered by today's standards. It's rather sad that many end up in boxes as "investments" instead of being used. Same is true for guitars and so many other things these days.

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