A few months back, I was watching a TV network that plays old shows from the 60's thru the 80's. I stopped the DVR to take these photos from the crime drama I was watching (Columbo

), that aired in 1974 (I verified the year at the closing credits). What stood out to me is what looks to be a graphic calculator in the man's left hand. Obviously it can't be, but what do you think it is?
<<Sorry, I tried uploading the photos multiple times to the forum, but every time I tried to Insert Into Post then Preview Post, they just disappeared. I gave up. This is a mystery for Columbo to solve!>>
Instead, here are Dropbox Links to slightly higher resolution copies than what are allowed in the forum:
Pic #1 and
Pic #2.
Edit: After receiving some good advice, here's another attempt at attaching the pics to the thread.. It seems to have worked - Thanks Jeff!
[
attachment=881]
[
attachment=882]
Matt
It must be a prop of some kind. Look how thin it is, nothing was made so slim in the old days.
(06-23-2014 04:59 AM)Matt Kernal Wrote: [ -> ]Obviously it can't be, but what do you think it is?
I think this is the first HP Prime prototype from HP - it just took them 40 years to perfect it! ;-)
(06-23-2014 08:42 AM)kusmi Wrote: [ -> ]I think this is the first HP Prime prototype from HP - it just took them 40 years to perfect it! ;-)
If that's now the result of 40 years striving for perfection then beware!
d;-)
(06-23-2014 04:59 AM)Matt Kernal Wrote: [ -> ]<<Sorry, I tried uploading the photos multiple times to the forum, but every time I tried to Insert Into Post then Preview Post, they just disappeared. I gave up. This is a mystery for Columbo to solve!>>
I have had a similar issue. I am probably doing it the hard way, but the way I get around it is to add the attachment, then insert into post. That will add something like "[attachment=xxx]" to the top of your message, where "xxx" will be the number assigned your attachment by the forum software. Then I type in an image insertion code:
Code:
[img]http://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/attachment.php?aid=xxx[/img]
Replace the xxx by the real attachment number, and the image is inserted into your post.
(06-23-2014 04:59 AM)Matt Kernal Wrote: [ -> ]Instead, here are Dropbox Links to slightly higher resolution copies than what are allowed in the forum:
Dropbox is blocked at my current location, so if you get a chance and feel like it, try my method above to insert your pictures here.
Jeff
(06-23-2014 04:59 AM)Matt Kernal Wrote: [ -> ]What stood out to me is what looks to be a graphic calculator in the man's left hand. Obviously it can't be, but what do you think it is?
Matt
It looks like a Litronix 4 banger of the era.
[
attachment=884]
(06-23-2014 03:28 PM)Mark Hardman Wrote: [ -> ]It looks like a Litronix 4 banger of the era.
Yep! I think you are right.
(06-23-2014 04:59 AM)Matt Kernal Wrote: [ -> ]Edit: After receiving some good advice, here's another attempt at attaching the pics to the thread.. It seems to have worked - Thanks Jeff!
Almost got it

, here are the larger versions in a post:
![[Image: attachment.php?aid=882]](http://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/attachment.php?aid=882)
(06-23-2014 03:28 PM)Mark Hardman Wrote: [ -> ]It looks like a Litronix 4 banger of the era.
Whew! Thank goodness that mystery is solved! I thought we were having a hiccup in the time-space continu.. well, you know the rest. Thanks all.