HP-91 How rare?

[Michael Meyer]

Quick question:

I don't remember reading or hearing that HP-91's are that rare, yet I don't remember ever seeing one for sale on eBay. A search doesn't show any either currently or in completed auctions. The Museum shows it as "somewhat difficult" to find, but I've seen far more of the others in that category....

Has it become more rare, or have I just not noticed the auctions?

Michael

[Massimo Gnerucci (Italy)]

No, they don't show up frequently, however, sometimes, they may be hidden in a lot: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3035907091

I asked for permission to bid on them but the seller replied - quite rudely - that they were for sale in the USA only.

Given this, and since I don't like when links to eBay items are reported here, I thought that this seller did not deserve to see his items sold for an amount much higher than his dull auction title was worth.

Massimo

[Massimo Gnerucci (Italy)]

BTW: do you know who mlmeyermd is?

;-)

[Raymond Del Tondo]

It depends.

- on overall look;

- on what comes with it;

- on how/if it works;

- on something I forgot here;-)

The units in the eBay auction #3035907091 look very used from the picture, and the description says '..in unknown working condition..' which tells nearly all about the machines.

From the user's view, they're just trash, because it's 99.9 percent sure they are *not* working properly.

From the collector's view they're like a two blade knife: If you don't have an 91, maybe you want to get one regardless of it's condition.

If you want them for display, these units seem to be hard work to look nice (and complete) again...

Raymond

[Massimo Gnerucci (Italy)]

Hi Raymond,
four Topcats for less than $90 is a fair price to me even though you'll have to work on them a little (?) to end up with 1 or 2 working units... and the 91 in the middle row doesn't look so ugly.

Nevertheless I agree with your points.

Massimo

[Michael Meyer]

Yes, it's me, of course, that bought the lot.

The guy was really pretty nice to me, on the phone anyway. And I really enjoy the restoration part.

And I thought no one else spotted the auction. Silly me.

Michael

[David Smith]

My estimates are that HP91 and 97S machines show up 8-12 times a year on Ebay. HP-92 machines are mayby twice as scarce.

[Michael Meyer]

That's really pretty rare... given how many calculators sell on eBay. Thanks! Hopefully at least one will be restorable for my collection and maybe the other will sell and pay for the lot. I've never sold on eBay, but it's getting time, so my hobby might be a little more self-supporting. Besides, it's fair; it takes some time to restore these things!

RTN2RPN,
Michael

[David Smith]

Some people like the bare simplicity of the HP-91, but the HP-97 is a LOT more capable of a machine... for usually a lot less money.

[Michael Meyer]

No doubt!! I LOVE the 97!! Pictures just don't do it justice (like the 71B). I "pictured" a much bigger machine. The 97 is really a reasonable size, given the desktop concept. Like other HP's, a beauty to behold and use. And I really like working on them... the quality of the engineering shines through. As our friend Luiz has said, it's great to think about the human factor behind the design.

Anyway, my interest in the 91 is just to add to the collection, frankly.

Otherwise, I'd have only one spice, maybe one or two voyagers, etc.

Michael