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HP-41C serial number - Printable Version

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HP-41C serial number - Guillermo Castarés - 12-29-2002

Hi:

Today I got an HP-41C.

1) The serial number is "1720A01115". How is this possible? 17+1960=1977, two years before release date?
The Earliest Serial Numbers published in the museum register a "1926...".

2) The keys are more "square shaped" than the keys on my HP-41CV or 41CX. I suppose this is common to all HP-41C. or it doesn´t?

Regards
Guillermo


Should not be possible - Gene - 12-29-2002

You're correct. A S/N of 1720 would date from the time of the HP-67, not the 41c.

Either...the S/N has been altered or you've somehow misread it. :-)

My early model has a S/N of 1932A...

Try typing 49 STO 01
Then Gold SF Gold 01

What happens on the display?
Gene


Re: HP-41C serial number - db (martinez, ca.) - 12-29-2002

my c also has the tall, more box-like keys.


Re: Should not be possible - Guillermo Castarés - 12-29-2002

The result of the sequence of keys that you told is "NONEXISTENT". What that it means?

I just write a html page with photos in my site, where you can see the S/N:
http://ar.geocities.com/casta1967/calculadoras/coleccion/calc39.htm

The serial number seems to be "hand made", instead of "typed" as the ones in my other calculators.

Guillermo.


Re: Should not be possible - Gene - 12-29-2002

Hi. It does look like a previous owner etched the S/N onto the back of the calculator. Brings up an interesting question...why wasn't there a S/N there already? Doesn't seem like it was there to me, unless the person who etched the S/N onto the 41c did it right over the original.

The series of key presses I gave you allows a very early 41c with a bug called "bug 3" to set the system flag for the low battery indicator. This is not normally possible on a 41c, but these early ones could do it in the way I described.

Good looking 41c, regardless! :-)


Re: Should not be possible - Renato - 12-29-2002

Guillermo,
Nice photos. Serial number appearance is quite different from my units (2452S41134, 2133B94184).
By the way - it looks like the plastic frame that goes between the two halves of the case is mounted upside down.
Saudacoes do Brasil.
Renato


Re: HP-41C serial number - David Smith - 12-30-2002

The unit is a warranty repair replaement unit. These had blank serial number areas that were filled in by hand with the original unit number. Obviously somebody copied the old number incorrectly.


Re: Should not be possible - Guillermo Castarés - 01-09-2003

Renato you were right! The plastic frame were mounted upside down. I opened the calc, inverted the frame, and mounted all together again. Now it looks as supposed.
You are a very good observer.

Saludos,
Guillermo


Re: HP-41C serial number - Chris(FLA) - 01-09-2003

FWIW
I have a low key 41C that has a serial number somewhat like that too. It looks like it was hand heat stamped.

2025A0XXXX

Is the serial number.

My tall key 41C that I bought originaly has the serial number.

2051A0XXXX

So it is somewhat obvious by the serial number sequence and the keys that the first one is a serviced unit.

Chris


Re: HP-41C serial number - Lars Johansson - 01-09-2003

I also have a 41C with serial number beginning with
20, and the golden balls in the charger tunnel.
I know for a fact that this
is a reparied unit, since I am the original owner

--Lars