Early HP 41CV with embossed logo

[Didier Lachieze]

There have been recently a few threads about early 41CVs. One about the embossed front logo that unfortunately turned out of topic, and one about the silver border where I learned a lot about 41's serial number decoding.

I've just received one of these early units:

• serial number 1939A01026
• golden ball contacts
• tall keys
• silver border
• golden embossed logo
• early 41C back label without the FCC text
• ROM revision GFF
  

When I put batteries in it I got MEMORY LOST then going to PRGM mode it showed 00 REG 46. I did SIZE 100 and got in PRGM mode 00 REG 219 as expected for a CV board, which is also aligned with the ROM revision.

So this unit started it's life as a 41C as indicated by the serial number from 1979 and the golden balls. Then at some point it was upgraded with a 41CV board and an embossed 41CV front label. From the serial numbers of the few other units reported with an embossed logo this seems to have happened at the very early stage of the 41CV production.