HP 41 PPC ROM Production Run Total

[rprosperi]

Here's the answers, straight from Richard:

The initial order was placed (early 82?), planned for 2500 pieces. After the order was placed, the actual costs were finalized and based on the estimated price paid by PPC members, it became clear that PPC could actually provide 2 ROMs to each of the initial buyers, which is why the first 5000 pieces are marked 1-2500A and 1-2500B, each member received a matched pair of A & B ROMs.

In 1983 a subsequent order was placed for 250 more ROMs, as stock was low and this was the minimum order qty from HP at that time.

In late 1984, PPC considered placing a 3rd order, but this was never realized as the membership economics were changing.

Other PPC ROM notes:

The initial order units have the large ROM number followed with A or B, engraved on the top of the module case.

The small numbers engraved on the bottom of the module (as seen in Joe's photo above) are not serial numbers, these are the normal mfg. date codes; e.g. Joe's ROM was made in the 32nd week of 1983 (and so, is from the 2nd order). ROMs from order 1 were made roughly 2144-2148, while second run ROMs seem to be from the 2330's. I have no idea how there is one from 2220, that seems to be from the year in-between orders (can you double check that number, you said it was hard to make out?)

The labels are also different - most (maybe all?) of the "PPC ROM" labels of the first order units were in a bolder font, not the same as that used for HP's modules. ROMs from the 2nd order used labels that were either the same or at least much closer the lighter font used for HP ROM labels. The reason I say perhaps not all order 1 ROMs used the bold fonts is I have a set of the bold font labels, provided in a small labeled envelope to stick on, on top of either the other labels or perhaps onto just the ROM itself, I don't know and don't recall when/where I got these, but probably at PPC in 83-84.

@vervalin - why are you looking for this information? - merely curious