Hp-15c Gone, but not forgotten

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around nostalgia for the HP-15C and HP-11C calculators, exploring the feasibility of creating replicas, the historical context of HP's development, and personal experiences with various HP calculators. Participants share their fond memories, technical insights, and preferences regarding older versus modern calculators, as well as inquiries about HP's history and product development.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express a desire for HP to bring back the HP-15C, citing its size, keypad feel, and RPN functionality as appealing features.
  • There are suggestions about the possibility of building replicas using new components, though concerns about legal implications are raised.
  • One participant shares their experience with modern calculators, arguing that while they may be technically superior, there is still a preference for older models like the HP-28S for certain tasks.
  • Several participants recount their personal histories with HP calculators, including the HP-15C and HP-28S, highlighting their reliability and functionality over decades.
  • Discussions about HP's historical figures, such as Bernie Oliver, and their contributions to early HP products, including the HP-35, are brought up, with questions about profit sharing and personal anecdotes from former employees.
  • Some participants question the relevance of older calculators in the face of modern technology, suggesting that their size and functionality may not meet current needs.
  • There are mentions of specific HP models and their characteristics, with some participants reminiscing about their experiences working with these devices in a professional context.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of nostalgia for older calculators and skepticism about their practicality compared to modern devices. There is no clear consensus on whether replicas should be made or if older models hold significant value in today's technological landscape.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions reference specific historical details and personal experiences that may not be universally applicable. The conversation includes varying opinions on the relevance and functionality of older versus modern calculators, reflecting individual preferences and experiences.

Mike_In_Plano
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I'm sure any number of us have fond memories of the hp-15c and hp-11c calculators. There's even a website where throwbacks like myself complain to the hp people to bring it back, but considering one server room represents more business than all the calculators they could ever sell, it occurs to me - is it realistic to build replicas?

As I understand the situation, people have the code and it's floating about on the internet. Does this sound like a good time for the old timers, or an open invitation to dunk our retirement in lawsuits?

- Mike
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Do you feel like to rebuild it using new component
 
If either of you are/were HP employees, you can answer my questions. In the mid-1950's while I was in college, I worked part time for Bernie Oliver in the (only) HP plant on the SW corner of Page Mill and Park Blvd. in Palo Alto. A few years ago, someone told me Bernie was involved in developing the HP-35. Is that true? Second, when I was there, HP was profit sharing. I never got my last profit sharing (in 1958). Do I have any profit sharing due me?

Bob S
 
If HP brought back the 15C, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Good size, good key-pad feel, nice display AND RPN. At the time the 15C came out, I already had a 21C that filled my needs, but I'd certainly like to have one now.
 
The Accounting guys still have a calculator that's the same form factor as the 15c. Swap the keys (not the buttons!), drop in a different processor, and change the logo.

Presto, 15c.
 
15C was my first HP, bought off a small scholarship my freshman year. i still have the calculator and the book.
 
You guys are joking right? Why would you ever want one of these things when there are modern calculators out there that are so much better?
 
Topher925 said:
You guys are joking right? Why would you ever want one of these things when there are modern calculators out there that are so much better?

I had an HP15c back in college and it got me through my undergrad years 82-86. Then a friend bought me an HP28s. I liked it better because of the bigger stack and easier matrix and complex math entry. I used this from 1986 till now. Ten years ago someone gave me another HP28s, so now I have two. These are both about 25 years old and work like new. The batteries (although they are the hard to find N batteries) last me years at a time.

This year, someone on a forum mailed me an HP49G for free. It's very impressive, but for doing simple math, I prefer the HP-28s, and for complicated math (symbolics, programming, etc.), I'd just as soon use a computer (Maxima, Matlab etc). The batteries die in weeks of use and the keyboard entry is very unreliable.

My point is that the modern calculators are only better from a certain point of view, and I can understand why people might prefer the old. Although I prefer the HP28s to the HP15c, the preference is very marginal and based on matrix and complex math which I do rarely on a calculator (Matlab is much better for that).

I just realized that the 3 HP calculators I have were given to me for free. I guess I'm very lucky. I did give my HP15c to someone in 1986. So, someone else was lucky too. I'll bet it still works fine.
 
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best thing 15C has going for it is a nice rugged case. if you could repackage it for about $10, it would be great for that type of calculator you keep in a drawer or glove compartment. it needs a new battery, tho. heck, slap your company logo on the thing and give them away as advertising swag instead of those POS solar gizmos.
 
  • #10
Bob S said:
If either of you are/were HP employees, you can answer my questions. In the mid-1950's while I was in college, I worked part time for Bernie Oliver in the (only) HP plant on the SW corner of Page Mill and Park Blvd. in Palo Alto. A few years ago, someone told me Bernie was involved in developing the HP-35. Is that true?

Bernie was a good friend of Hewlett and Packard. Did you ever see them around the shop?

According to http://www.hp.com/retiree/history/founders/early_contributors/barney.html

The central labs — established in 1966 and led by Barney — became the birthplace of a long list of now-legendary products emerging during this era. These included:

* The HP 2116A, the company's first computer;
* The HP 9100A, the first scientific desktop programmable calculator; and
* The HP 35, the first scientific handheld calculator

In the HP Journal June 1972 there is no mention of Barney. But they mentioned some engineers that were involved in the design of the HP 35.
 
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  • #11
Topher925 said:
You guys are joking right? Why would you ever want one of these things when there are modern calculators out there that are so much better?
Why would anyone want a calculator that doesn't hide away easily in you slacks pocket? If you want to process data, flip matrices, or generate graphs, a pocket calculator is too tedious in any case. That's what PCs are for. It's better that a calculator be something small and robust - the very definition of the 15c.
Besides, the public has spoken on Ebay. 15c's regulalry go for more than these "graphing calculators"
 
  • #12
what said:
Bernie was a good friend of Hewlett and Packard. Did you ever see them around the shop?.
I worked for Bernie Oliver 1954-58 part time when I was a student at a local university. I remember building a 6AM4 grounded-grid 420-MHz amplifier. HP was just two connected buildings then, so both Hewlett and Packard were often in the back building with the troops.

Bob S
 
  • #13
Bob S said:
I worked for Bernie Oliver 1954-58 part time when I was a student at a local university. I remember building a 6AM4 grounded-grid 420-MHz amplifier. HP was just two connected buildings then, so both Hewlett and Packard were often in the back building with the troops.

Bob S

That's amazing. This was the time when HP was undergoing a huge growth. I'm also familiar with Art Fong who led a lot of RF/microwave designs. For a time I had HP 3200B oscillator 10-500 MHz based on tubes but I sold it on ebay.
 
  • #14
what said:
That's amazing. This was the time when HP was undergoing a huge growth. I'm also familiar with Art Fong who led a lot of RF/microwave designs. For a time I had HP 3200B oscillator 10-500 MHz based on tubes but I sold it on ebay.
I worked on the Model 708 20-MHz to 420-MHz (vacuum tube) signal generator. I had a model 410 VTVM (vacuum tube volt meter) ser. No. 7, but my brother sold it when I was a post doc in Cambridge, Mass. :(

Bob S
 
  • #15
Bob S said:
I worked on the Model 708 20-MHz to 420-MHz (vacuum tube) signal generator. I had a model 410 VTOL (vacuum tube volt meter) ser. No. 7, but my brother sold it when I was a post doc in Cambridge, Mass. :(

Bob S

Was is the 608? There was a whole fleet of these signal generators covering frequencies from VHF all the way up to 22 GHz.

ser No. 7? oh man, that would be a rare item today, and sought by collectors.
 
  • #16
what said:
Was is the 608? There was a whole fleet of these signal generators covering frequencies from VHF all the way up to 22 GHz.

The HP model 608 was a 20 megacycle to 480 Mc (megacycle) vacuum tube signal generator, in production before 1954. It was perhaps 15" high, and had a big crank on it to change the size of the oscillator resonant cavity. See photo.

ser No. 7? oh man, that would be a rare item today, and sought by collectors.
The model 410 VTVM was a used bench unit at HP; they sold bench units to employees once or twice per year. I paid $3.00 (not a typo) for it.

Bob S
 

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  • #17
Bob S said:
The HP model 608 was a 20 megacycle to 480 Mc (megacycle) vacuum tube signal generator, in production before 1954. It was perhaps 15" high, and had a big crank on it to change the size of the oscillator resonant cavity. See photo.

That's a fine signal generator and certainly served its purpose. It would make a great restoration project. I've stumbled on it before when I was looking for a microwave signal generator. I've eventually settled for YIG plug-in series, but got to know most of HP lines of signal generators in the process.

The Bama Website hosts a free service manual with schematics for it, and many other of these generators. The 3200B I had wasn't based on a cavity, it had a combination of switched capacitor and inductor bank, and was tuned with a variable capacitor vernier. But the output was attenuated by some kind of a waveguide. It had a pick up coil in a tube that was inserted in the attenuator. The attenuation depended on far the tube is inserted.
The model 410 VTVM was a used bench unit at HP; they sold bench units to employees once or twice per year. I paid $3.00 (not a typo) for it.

That's the HP way at work.
 
  • #18
HP has a 15c emulator for the iPhone. It is either $29 or $39, but that is way cheaper than what they go for on ebay.

I'd buy more than one 15c, 32sII or 42S if they were ever reintroduced.
 
  • #19
NateB said:
HP has a 15c emulator for the iPhone. It is either $29 or $39, but that is way cheaper than what they go for on ebay.

I'd buy more than one 15c, 32sII or 42S if they were ever reintroduced.
I'd snap up a couple of 15Cs in a heart-beat. My cell doesn't take pictures or run apps - it only makes phone calls. It accepts txt messages too, but I never tell anybody my number if they are the type to txt all day. They can call if they want to talk.