serial numbers of international HP-17b's

[Don Shepherd]

I have two 17-b's made in the US in consecutive weeks during 1988:

Serial # 2816A06305  -  no language choice in MODES, self-test OK-17B-E

Serial # 2815A91640  -  choice of languages in MODES, self-test OK-17B-I

So I'm thinking that if the first digit of the serial number (after the YYWWC portion) is 0, that corresponds to a unit sold in the US, and if the digit is 9, that corresponds to a unit sold outside the US (and so it has the language selections).

Can anyone confirm this?

Edited: 26 Nov 2011, 10:36 p.m. after one or more responses were posted

[db (martinez, ca.)]

1988?

[Don Shepherd]

Yeah, you're right db, I keep goofing that. Thanks, I changed the original post to reflect this.

[Marcus von Cube, Germany]

I've an international 17bii with serial # 3112S04389

[Don Shepherd]

Thanks Marcus.

I've got 3 non-language-selection Singapore units that begin (the serial # part) with S3, so maybe the Singapore factory uses 3 for English-only units and 0 for international units.

Or maybe not. I guess only HP knows (or knew).

[Marcus von Cube, Germany]

Maybe the 17Bii and the 17B are different in this respect. Does there exist an English only 17Bii?

[Don Shepherd]

Quote:

---

Does there exist an English only 17Bii?

---

Oh yeah. I have about 4 17bii's and they are all English-only (that is, no language selection from the MODES key). They are from Singapore and Indonesia, and the serial # (after YYWWC) starts with 0.

[Ken Shaw]

The 17BII that I have handy is 3015S01247.

Singapore, but not international, if "international" means it has the language option in the Modes menu.

[Don Shepherd]

Thanks Ken. So yours is S0 and without language selection, and Marcus' is S0 with language selection. Marcus, can you verify that when you do the self-test, you get OK-17B-I?

[Marcus von Cube, Germany]

I get OK-17B-II-I? The language selection pops up after a power failure (the batteries were flat so I saw it.)

[Don Shepherd]

Thanks Marcus. I'm thinking that the "I" at the end of the message means "international unit", as opposed to the usual "E" for English-only units. So you should have the language selection options from the MODE key, correct?

[Marcus von Cube, Germany]

Yes, MODE offers INTL.