Introducing TSO Power-Loc Bench Dog

[Cheese]

Guilty as charged. I didn't even know there was an 11c. It's missing the financial keys I use.

That's because they offered a whole series of calculators for various professions. Found this at the HP Museum (who'd have thunk).

HP-10C Scientific Programmable
HP-11C Advanced Scientific Programmable
HP-12C Business Calculator
HP-15C Scientific with Matrix & Complex Math
HP-16C Computer Scientist Calculator

Do you realize the 12C is still offered, that's 41 years of continuous production. Here's an interesting 12C story:

One HP-12C was used by a zoo keeper to calculate feed mixtures. The zoo keeper dropped the calculator and it was consumed by a hippopotamus. The calculator survived the hippo's digestive process as well as the washing that followed.

Like the idea of the app on the phone.  [smile]

 

[Doug H]

There is an iOS app called PCalc which is a great HP-42 emulator.  There is also a version for MacOS. (PCalc 4) Once you get used to RPN, it becomes difficult (or just frustrating) to use regular calculators.  I also have a HP-11C, HP-12C and HP-42S but usually just use my iPhone now.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] the 12c dated you... [poke]

Fellow member of the reverse-thumb-calculator club  [thumbs up]

Hey [member=8712]Richard/RMW[/member] ...that is probably the 11C but I can't tell for sure. I did purchase a 12 several years later when they discontinued production of the 11 because I didn't want to be without, what a sweet piece of equipment.

However to your point, I'm not really dating myself, on the contrary you're dating yourself because who the heck would even recognize that dinosaur...other than another dinosaur.  [poke] [poke]

But just because I feel nostalgic tonight, here's a trip down memory lane.

This 11C was used daily for engineering issues over a 30 year span of time. That's a lot of key strokes. Check out the numbers on the buttons...nothing is faded or worn off, it makes you wonder what type of nuclear based ink HP printed the keys with.  [eek]

The only readily apparent wear is the smudging of the logo in the upper RH corner which happens when you return it to its sheath every evening.

In over 40 years of use I've changed the batteries maybe 3-4 times...simply an incredible calculator. Do small issues like this even matter in today's world as I'm fighting with migration issues between a couple of mac's?

[attachimg=1]

Hell to get old. I'm still working after just hitting retirement age. Have worked for the same company for close to 50 years as an engineer for large diesel engines for locomotive and other applications. When I started college was right at the time I didn't need to use a slide-rule. I got my hands on a Bowmar Brain. I can find a pic of it at the museum of calculators. I had an HP48G for many years but replaced it when it died with HP50G. I also have a nice RPN calculator App on my Apple devices.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I'm jealous of all you guys who know how to use those extra buttons.
Mike mentioned slide rules, I still have my father's slide rule which he used to help design the Saturn V launch pad, but I don't remember how to use that either.

 

[rmwarren]

Never fails that I can sidetrack a thread with some random comment... Dogs to calculators even. Oops  [doh]

RMW

 

[PaulMarcel]

This 11C was used daily for engineering issues over a 30 year span of time. That's a lot of key strokes. Check out the numbers on the buttons...nothing is faded or worn off, it makes you wonder what type of nuclear based ink HP printed the keys with.  [eek]

From what I read ages ago, the buttons on the HP calculators weren't printed with ink but rather inlaid plastic so you could likely sand the top of the key and not get rid of the 'print'. This came up in some article that talked about how HP had switched to printing the keys to make manufacturing cheaper (though as you said they already have a 40+ year old tooling). That was a flop and they ended up replacing the keys/calculators for everybody who bought the printed keys and went back to inlaid.

At least that's what I recall. I'll go look for the article...

 

[Cheese]

Cheese, the Woodpecker drill thingy looks usable, are you happy with it?  [smile]

Yes [member=71478]FestitaMakool[/member] ...very happy with it. I find I use it more often than I used the UJK version because it's shorter, more compact and plunges easier/smoother. The included drill chuck is very nice, similar to a Jacobs 33 Series but it seems to grip the drill bit better and is also smoother to operate. The chuck is made in Japan rather than China and the 1/2" diameter max capacity is a bonus round.

The only thing I'm going to change is to put a lesser rate compression spring on it. When used in the traditional vertical position, gravity & the weight of the drill help to compress the spring. However, when used in the horizontal position I find myself fighting with it a bit.

 

[Cheese]

#15….yes ….[member=44099]Cheese[/member]..I can’t get your Vise out of my head..I’m with Rob z …it’s is a beautiful thing !

Thanks, I purchased it new for the price of $40... [eek]...it was a closeout, it weighs about 40# so that's just $1 per pound, cheaper then ground beef.  [big grin]

Interestingly enough, Starrett purchased the Athol Machine Company, which made vises, in the early 1900's. So Starrett has been manufacturing vises in the US for a long time. Normally you hear about Wilton, Columbian, Reed, Yost and others, Starrett is usually under the radar.

 

[FestitaMakool]

Cheese, the Woodpecker drill thingy looks usable, are you happy with it?  [smile]

Yes [member=71478]FestitaMakool[/member] ...very happy with it. I find I use it more often than I used the UJK version because it's shorter, more compact and plunges easier/smoother. The included drill chuck is very nice, similar to a Jacobs 33 Series but it seems to grip the drill bit better and is also smoother to operate. The chuck is made in Japan rather than China and the 1/2" diameter max capacity is a bonus round.

The only thing I'm going to change is to put a lesser rate compression spring on it. When used in the traditional vertical position, gravity & the weight of the drill help to compress the spring. However, when used in the horizontal position I find myself fighting with it a bit.

Sounds good Cheese! However, I must have blinked when I saw it, and mostly at the pricing the first time I saw it at a German dealer - Looked it up yesterday again, wow! This is something I need to move forward to “luxury” buys. Over $300..