I collect old calculators, digital diaries and databanks. Is there
anyone out there who can repair them. I am happy to pay the going
rate for this.

--
Alasdair.

Alasdair wrote:
I collect old calculators, digital diaries and databanks. Is there
anyone out there who can repair them. I am happy to pay the going
rate for this.

I repaired some old HP calculators once. It wasn't too difficult as it
was mostly made up of transistors, caps, transformers, buttons, hex
tubes etc. It is worth your while to learn basic repair on such old
beasty's.

Andrew

Andrew ) writes:
Alasdair wrote:
I collect old calculators, digital diaries and databanks. Is there
anyone out there who can repair them. I am happy to pay the going
rate for this.

I repaired some old HP calculators once. It wasn't too difficult as it
was mostly made up of transistors, caps, transformers, buttons, hex
tubes etc. It is worth your while to learn basic repair on such old
beasty's.

Andrew

I don't think they are really that old.

Obviously, "old calculators" could mean many things, including
mechanical. But the "digital diaries and databanks" suggest
things far more recently.

I bought an HP-55 at a garage sale a few months ago, and if there
are any transistors in there, they are of a limited nature.

Worn out rechargeable batteries are likely a problem. Missing
chargers another. Leaked batteries that have caused outright
damage to the circuitry. Keypads that have gotten dirty.

Of course, the original poster didn't give an indication of whether
these things are outright dead, of merely partially operating. Dead
may mean a relatively simple thing like a bad battery or on-off switch,
but partially operating give clues while may be more troublesome
to fix.

Obviously one should do websearches when they bring such things home.
Because it can be surprising how often one can find a manual online,
be it from the manufacturer or some third party. If the item has some
"collector value", chances are even better of finding information, since
people aren't going to bother fixing that $3.99 LCD calculator, but
might find some value in keeping that 1975 calculator going, or that
1976 LED watch.

Michael

On 14 Sep 2007 06:07:28 GMT (Michael Black)
wrote in Message id: :


Obviously one should do websearches when they bring such things home.
Because it can be surprising how often one can find a manual online,
be it from the manufacturer or some third party. If the item has some
"collector value", chances are even better of finding information, since
people aren't going to bother fixing that $3.99 LCD calculator, but
might find some value in keeping that 1975 calculator going, or that
1976 LED watch.

Which got me wondering
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editor...3E+%3C%2FTD%3E

The first calculator with a microprocessor (Intel 4004 which was also the
first microprocessor) was a Bowmar 910B. I wonder what it's worth? The
only one I could find:
http://cgi.ebay.com/BOWMAR-CALCULATO...QQcmdZViewItem
Not working... But, it might be a good deal if the CPU is still good - in
the past, I've seen 4004 chips go for upwards of $100 USD on Ebay.

On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:35:55 -0400, JW wrote:

On 14 Sep 2007 06:07:28 GMT (Michael Black)
wrote in Message id: :


Obviously one should do websearches when they bring such things home.
Because it can be surprising how often one can find a manual online,
be it from the manufacturer or some third party. If the item has some
"collector value", chances are even better of finding information, since
people aren't going to bother fixing that $3.99 LCD calculator, but
might find some value in keeping that 1975 calculator going, or that
1976 LED watch.

Post over at rec.antiques.radio-phono and you will get lots of
responses.

John

John Bachman ) writes:
On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:35:55 -0400, JW wrote:

On 14 Sep 2007 06:07:28 GMT (Michael Black)
wrote in Message id: :


Obviously one should do websearches when they bring such things home.
Because it can be surprising how often one can find a manual online,
be it from the manufacturer or some third party. If the item has some
"collector value", chances are even better of finding information, since
people aren't going to bother fixing that $3.99 LCD calculator, but
might find some value in keeping that 1975 calculator going, or that
1976 LED watch.

Post over at rec.antiques.radio-phono and you will get lots of
responses.

John

I was commenting on some of the problems of older things.

But thirty year old calculators don't belong in rec.antiques.radio+phono.
There's even debate, or was at one time, over early transistor equipment.

But like I said, I suspect the poster is talking about far more
recent things.

Michael

Alasdair hath wroth:

I collect old calculators, digital diaries and databanks. Is there
anyone out there who can repair them. I am happy to pay the going
rate for this.

I also collect HP calculators. There are quite a few web sites that
deal with old calculators. My pile of calculators. Oh-oh, old
photos. I have perhaps 40 LED calcs and 20 LCD calcs.
http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/hp-calc/
http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/hp65/

Most collectors do their own repairs. See list at:
http://www.hpmuseum.org/repair.htm
The big problem is finding parts. Cannibalism is the most common
method. If you have older HP LED calculators, be prepared to clean
keyboards, rebuild the leaky battery packs, and repair the
intermittent charger connector cables.

Educalc also does some HP repair:
http://www.educalc.net/135154.page

Most of the museum sites offer links to repair services.
For example, for TI calculators:
http://www.datamath.org/Collector_Links.htm
More of the same:
http://www.hpcalculators.net
http://www.oldcalculatormuseum.com
http://www.vintagecalculators.com
http://www.classiccmp.org/calcmuseum/
http://www.calculators.de/
http://pocketcalculatorshow.com/calculator/
http://www.calculatormuseum.nl/calc/
etc... Check the "links" pages.



--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558