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[Mark Hardman]

I display a part of my collection on the credenza behind my desk at work. I frequently have visitors stop by just to look at the calculators. In one case, a consultant remarked that his father had an HP-41C. The next day there's a boxed HP-41CX with aviation pac, extended memory and HP-IL module--all in excellent working condition. I tried to explain to the consultant that he was giving away several hundred dollars worth of hardware. He replied that the HP-41CX belonged to his father and was just gathering dust and he would prefer that it find a home with someone that could appreciate it.

On another occasion, a co-worker was going through his recently deceased uncle's possessions and noticed a boxed HP-19C. He called asking if I would be interested. I offered several hundred dollars depending on condition. He laughed and insisted I take it for free.

I've also had dozens of TI calculators donated to the collection. I remain gracious and accept these gifts in the spirit they are given.

One final story, late in the life of CompuServe, someone posted in the classifieds that he had a box of ~100 HP-12Cs. I offered $120 and amazingly he accepted. On delivery his package included 78 HP-12Cs in mixed condition, but it also included: 7 x HP-11C, 6 x HP-15C and 4 x HP-16C! I contacted the seller to offer extra for the non-12C calculators. He insisted that "a deal is a deal". Who was I to argue. That works out to 95 voyagers at $1.26 each.