I purchased 4 HP-85Bs at auction yesterday. I was browsing information on
HPs at
http://www.finseth.com/~fin/hpdata/serial.html, and discovered that
one of my "new" machines was manufactured in February, 1982. That's 16
months before the 85B was released, as I understand it. Here's the serial
number: 2210A60158. If the first two digits are the number of years since
1960, it was manufactured in 1982. If the next two are the number of weeks
since a certain week in November, it was manufactured sometime in February.
Is that right? If the HP-85Bs were released on June 1, 1983, this one was
either a prototype that rolled off the 85A assembly line, or it's an 85-A in
disguise. Do the 85B covers fit the 85A? If so, there's a hapless soul
with an 85B that thinks it's an 85. And I own both models.
Something else that's interesting: This particular model had an older-style
riveted-on serial number plate, while the other three had newer stickers. It
s also the only one with a 82936A ROM DRAWER. This drawer has the
00085-15002 PLOTTER/PRINTER ROM. I don't think that's significant, but
maybe??
One other thing: The FCC-ID on three models ends with 85B. The model in
question either hasn't got one, or I can't find it.
If you can shed any light, please do so. I plan to keep one and sell off
the other three. If I'm selling an 85-A, I want to make sure that's what I'm
advertising. In fact, I may just want to keep two of them.
Also, how much is an 85-A worth? I can't find them for sale anywhere.
Cheers,
John
Received on Sat Sep 14 2002 - 08:13:00 BST