I saw this modified HP-67 for sale, and wondered if anyone knows what it is. There is some sort of connector on the back and a special keyboard template. Maybe it's some sort of equipment calibrator or tester? Any ideas?
Customized HP-67, What is it?
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04-29-2009, 05:07 PM
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04-29-2009, 06:42 PM
Probably a little more bland than that. Perhaps a power supply hack, or just a custom installed connector for a security cable. ▼
04-29-2009, 07:39 PM
Looks like someone was trying to use this as an auto phone dialer or something to use to test phone lines. The keyboard overlay shows the telephone letters. The connector on the back could connect to a telephone line??????? ▼
04-29-2009, 10:31 PM
Quote:The letter assignments are not the same as standard telephone usage. Can't see enough of the connector to figure out what it is.
04-29-2009, 11:23 PM
the letters are color coded to the three shift keys yellow, blue and black. There would be a program to use those keys for text. most humbly, Charlie
04-30-2009, 09:46 AM
If it is a power supply hack, maybe a "phase box" for synthetic programming was connected to it?
04-30-2009, 07:36 AM
The overlay says "BENDIX" on it. Apparently they supply air brake systems for commercial vehicles. A google search of the part number (3602332-0001) yields a handful of hits that appear to be aircraft part lists. Interesting. The connector looks like it's threaded, but I'm guessing it's too small to be a coax F-connector. ▼
04-30-2009, 11:35 AM
Quote:Among other things... once upon a time, Bendix was also in the avionics business. ▼
04-30-2009, 12:51 PM
Hello!
Quote: They still are in the business, they even keep their name, but they belong to Honeywell since many years (http://www.bendixking.com). I use their products at work every day. What that HP-67 could have been used for, I have no idea. Without the proper magnetic cards, this whole modified thing is useless anyway. Greetings, Max
04-30-2009, 01:06 PM
My mother had a Bendix clothes washer when I was little!
04-30-2009, 11:14 PM
Bendix also made a famous line of high-end electronic connectors favored by mil/aero contractors. ▼
05-01-2009, 12:25 AM
OK, guys. I asked the seller to post a photo of the connector, so here it is: I remember seeing some mil-spec Amphenol connectors that looked like this. Usually used for data transmission between a computer and a controller. The Hp 67 would be the computer in this case. ▼
05-01-2009, 02:26 AM
Goggling the Bendix part number, 3602332-0001, hits several military and aviation surplus dealers. One lists this as a "PLACARD" so apparently this was just the part number for the overlay. That sounds like a *very* military term to me. I'll bet that this is puppy is a Combat Model HP-67 Who knew that our beloved collectibles were used for such horrible purposes. ▼
05-01-2009, 09:06 AM
Quote: I'm sure the "horrible" attribution must be whimsical. The cited abstract is interesting, and its date of July 1977 is very close to the time that the HP-67 was making it to the street in quantity. But...doesn't the unit on auction have a 1980 serial number, making it one of the last units off the HP-67 assembly line? I programmed an HP-67 for a fair number of calculations supporting operation of a ballistic missile submarine (magnificent machines and technology!) about that time. That worked so well that soon a government-purchased HP-97 replaced my personal HP-67. Support of defense is honorable use of our "beloved" machines. ▼
05-01-2009, 09:01 PM
Quote: Hello, And part of a sort of tradition, too. From the Norden bomber computer and the artillery tables calculated with the first computers in World War II to the F-22 Raptor Common Data Processor, calculators and computers have played an important role in defense and weapons systems. Bomber crews and artillery gunners, to name two examples, have to perform a lot of calculations to get on target and hit it with their ammunition. There is not much space for thick data tables, and a compact device that replaces them is a welcome addition to their equipment. My two cents.
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