[BC] Re: Providing schematics

[Robert Orban]

At 08:01 AM 10/5/2007, Clay Freinwald wrote:

>Some of this stuff is so cheap today that it's simply thrown away 
>when it breaks, because it's cheaper than spending the time to 
>research the problem, order parts, install and hope etc.
>I hate to say it, but this has become normal. (The older you
>are the harder this is to understand)
>And Yes I remember Sams - I recall vividly the invitations to come 
>over for dinner...........and bring your tool box.  Come to think of 
>it, those U-Test-Um tube testers seem to be missing at the grocery stores.

The other day I repaired my HP45 calculator, which I have had since 
1973. Clearly, the wall-wart power supply had failed. I thought the 
whole calculator was finally going to have to be given a decent 
burial, but, to my surprise and pleasure, it turned out that the HP 
wall wart's cover could be removed. Inside the wall wart was a 
typical circa-1973 HP circuit board with gold-plated traces. After 
replacing the big filter capacitor (which had been about 1/8 " from a 
regulator for 30+ years and had therefore finally dried out), 
everything was fine -- the calculator's display no longer displayed 
garbage whenever the power supply was connected.

This experience brings back memories of HP's superb build quality 
back when it was still mainly a test and measurement instrument 
company. Of course, it cost $395 in 1972 dollars, which is $1838 in 
today's dollars.

May the HP45 live for another 30 years!

Bob Orban