Trying to FIX a Faulty 34+ year old Calculator

[@heberdua]

Your getting so good at fixing things that they get fixed on the way to your house!!

[@tech-5231]

now you can try to connect it to the switch.

[@bullshitdetective1]

headcase

[@soulmourne2698]

You can play the switch like a game and watch with that calculator hahahah

[@julianwagners]

The calculator hast more power then a switch

[@HowDoIlock]

@@julianwagners lol

[@AmyDaisy69]

I don't know why but I really love these old displays. They are so much more magical than LCD displays.

[@Kwstr42]

you should use all 8's to test all the lines in the display, not just random numbers

[@Operational117]

Beat me to it, but I just wanna add that afterwards you can type 0.00000000, and check that all the decimal dots work as you type it in.

[@GadgetUK164]

@@Operational117 Beat me to it as well! Probably a bad segment.

[@Pyridox]

Thanks for sharing. Radio-Shack sold decent calculators back in the 70's & 80's, most likely a major manufacturer made them for RS.

[@aldinelt7214]

Hi Vince, Just wanted to thank you for all of these fix-it videos you have put together. Watching them gave me the confidence to tackle my own fix-it job. Bought 2 Canon SX10IS digital cameras from eBay and was able to make one fully functioning camera from the two of them. Thanks again.

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks for the comment and well done for fixing up a working camera :-)

[@SakaYeenVI]

The amount of care and craftsmanship put into these old electronics is amazing. Of course many of them are simple by today's standards but to think something made that long ago still works perfectly fine is amazing to me, even if it is just a calculator. Then you see smartphones today are deliberately designed to degrade after a few years of use. Also from the looks of it, it looks like this particular calculator can connect to some sort of display via the port in the back, maybe that would have been the fault in the machine?

[@Mymatevince]

Hi, thanks for the comments. That port at the back is for a power supply, to save you using the D cell batteries :-)

[@GadgetUK164]

Nice pickup! As others have already suggested - try typing 8888888888888888 to fill the display. As they use 7 segments for each digit, failed segments can be revealed that way. If one has failed, there's nothing you can do except swap the VFD =/

[@philsinclair]

I'm not lie, I'm really disappointed the calculator didn't need fixing!

[@100bl]

Autodidact .. self taught.. how I approach fixing things... great channel 👍

[@AnnoyingLion]

Perhaps you are so good at fixing stuff, you fixed it in your sleep then perfectly wrapped it back up again :o

[@CLC-1000]

Fantastic video Vince. Lovely to see old equipment working in the modern day.

[@SaccoBelmonte]

I had a similar one, well, my dad had a similar one. Lovely piece of retro loveliness.

[@RcHelpDotCom]

The black mark in the lower right corner of the Vacuum Fluorescent Display is actually an oxygen indicator. If the screen leaks, that black mark will turn white letting you know it is no longer under a vacuum. I also agree to test it with all 8's to test every line in each character. Thanks for the video!

[@lisaforbes3807]

I am able to retrieve eBay orders placed back in 2018 and 2017. If you click on My eBay drop down box located on the top of screen, you then select Purchase history. The default will list current purchases, however if you click on "see orders from" the default is last 60 days, click on the drop down box you will be able to select 2018 or 2017. Once you do that you should find your purchase and open it up. I use this all the time so I know it works.

[@AlvinMarin.]

My mate Vince is so good, how good is he.... he can fix a calculator by just looking at it 👍👍👍👍👍

[@CYPH3RsD0M41N]

TRYING to "turn on" a calculator.

[@Operational117]

Mudzi Result: Embarrassing success!

[@brianrb84]

All your videos are good no matter the outcome!!!

[@KiloooNL]

You are correct Vince, after 90 days eBay listings are removed from the servers.

[@androo4519]

I've bought one or two old calculators on Ebay listed as not working with VFD displays and if they haven't been powered up for long time can sometimes take quite a few seconds to come back to life when you put new batteries in. Worth waiting 30 seconds. And cleaning contacts of course.

[@aljoin]

I love these fix it video. Keep them coming.

[@tamerakel]

Thanks again for the video, keep them coming!!

[@danmackintosh6325]

Haha the irony, I've just built a brand new kit calculator and it does not work! (faulty ADC IMO, seller being a pain lol).I have had similar luck though buying my second Game Gear (your fault Vince haha :D ) which was described as not loading games, but just had dark screen/no sound hence failed caps and is now my default player to keep the first one I did in great shape! Thanks for sharing, it's nice to know you got a bit of luck finally even if it didn't make for a chewy repair vid.

[@tomthebadasscat]

Hi Vince, I guessed late 70's due to the display and styling of the calculator. I think that calculator was designed for accountants. I think the GPM button stands for Gross Profit Margin. Also there was most probably a 4% tax or something due to the 4% button. Have a good one, sorry it wasn't broken for you. 😁

[@Graytail]

VFD Vacuum Flurescent Display. Fun things. The black spot in there shows the display is still under vacuum, they're supposed to turn white if the seal is broken. Quick way to tell if the display has failed without removing and testing the elements. I had a similar story myself last week, bought myself an Atari Flashback 8 which was 'freezing when you play with it' Hours of 'testing' later... dont judge me I grew up playing Atari games.. no freezing.... yay? The red digit calculator, if not early LED based, simply had a red filter infront of the same kind of VFD you have there. Just like some of the grandstand style games did to have colour graphics.

[@Noone-vv9yb]

Finally, a calculator that can match my math skills.

[@KOCGaming2011]

When multiplying or adding numbers, you should press the [+=] key. The [-=] key ("Negative equals") is only used for division and subtraction.

[@gogogagetfingers]

According to the online USA inflation calculator if that was purchased in 1975 for $29.99 in today's money it would of been $142. So yes quite expensive at the time

[@P5ychoFox]

Yay I guessed 1978. That makes it one year younger than me. Bloody ancient.

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

The getter serves 2 purposes: - get rid of impurities when the vacuum device is manufactured; - show how good the vacuum seal is; It gets white if air gets in contact with it, which tells you that's a dead tube that needs replacing immediately!

[@JamesPotts]

It's an "adding machine" style calculator. For example, to calculate 30 - 8, you would enter "30 + 8 -" .

[@pbarratt73]

@James Potts I still have one of these and wondered why it worked different to normal calculators I thought it was faulty

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks for the info :-)

[@JamesPotts]

@@pbarratt73 I briefly worked as a programmer at an insurance company, and they had a bunch of spare adding machines, but no calculators. So I learned to use one out of necessity.

[@pbarratt73]

@@JamesPotts my Parents used to do all their bills and savings etc on the one I have I remember in the early 80's and I kept it safely all this time. The store was called Tandy in UK instead of radio shack though. Thanks for the info matey.

[@Dave64track]

Great video looks like brand new all the white keys look so clean don't think it's been used much by the looks of it. You need to try all 8's like Kw3str said might be a segment missing.

[@gravedigr12]

just curious I have an old adler royal-1248 PD and it works fine but the screen is so dim I need to use it in the pitch black darkness any clue what would cause this?

[@DarkGT]

It was broken, but Vince the magic fingers fix it with one touch.

[@markwilliams5418]

hi vince can i ask have you closed you e bay shop link does not show your shop thanks

[@ARIGHETTI]

Well that was interesting! It's fully working 😂👍

[@montyburns56]

Perhaps you should have a spin off channel where you try to break things that are working?

[@bucketlung61]

Was that a power adapter socket on the back ? If so, did it also work ?

[@truthfilter]

i'm so crap at maths i can't even use a calculator

[@hugowoowoovlogs300]

truthfilter i dont think you should swear on vince’s vids.

[@Okurka.]

Hugowoowoo Vlogs, why the fuck not?

[@fazoke2906]

Great video, Vince!

[@smikee]

Vince, whats that little computer you show all your listings on?

[@RandyDarkshade2]

I have a Casio from 1979 which I still use. I bought it for 50p at a car boot sale a few years ago.

[@smigunc3024]

Just a bit off topic, I was wondering what that little laptop that you used to show where you purchased the calculator is?

[@sirmugman]

ooooh in the box! LGR must be drooling slightly from this,

[@kennethbarker852]

great video

[@gazzaka]

I am thinking maybe DC adaptor plug is broken. Nice calculator display !

[@Ryan-zc3ef]

Love your Channel vince

[@ValeYard13]

Fixing this just doesn’t add up, Vince. 🤣

[@chevsev]

vfd = vacuum florescent display, be carful they run on fairly high voltage. And the getter absorbs oxygen that out gasses that will damage the display.

[@Lee-mq4yp]

Robert Mitchell he took a calculated risk.

[@ValeYard13]

Lee 133 I feel like your comment is subtracting from his efforts.

[@Operational117]

Robert Mitchell I’m trying to come up with a witty reply, but I’m rather divided between several options...

[@abzhuofficial]

Me laughing at the mathematical puns here are multiplied by OVER 9000

[@Alexander_l322]

Those Duracell industrial batteries are great from Amazon, so cheap and last forever lol

[@danmackintosh6325]

True, they're actually working to gain back the reputation that Duracell lost on their original black/gold brand when they went rubbish. Very good batteries IMO.

[@Alexander_l322]

@@danmackintosh6325 well I remember and they still probably do sell fake Duracell batteries on markets, ebay, Amazon, corner shops and other places so that couldn't have helped the reputation of them but I've always known they are alright and the industrial ones are really mint. My LG magic remote has not needed fresh AAs yet! It's been 5 months and the Xmas light up Santa is still lit :)

[@danmackintosh6325]

Could have been that too but even the genuine ones from places like Tesco or Asda went downhill, mainly in that they leaked before they even ran out or passed their date. I've noticed lately they seem to be using the black/gold for their "economy" line so perhaps the damage was bad enough they had to rebrand the good ones as industrial? (Compare this to some people I know of who have found Duracell D cells in old keyboards with a date of 2001, next to a different brand that had leaked everywhere, and the old Duracell still looked perfect & IIRC even showed some charge.

[@amigaman9433]

I'm really pleased to hear you guys saying Duracell Industrial batteries are good as I wasn't sure when I bought some 9V PP3 ebay 10 for £10.99 112343789541

[@a2zme]

Fastest 'fix' ever :)

[@Okurka.]

It took him 4 months.

[@ajune3332]

I like the old calculator🙂.i think when i used calculator it easy to look and colour is clearly 👍👍

[@Tass...]

$115 in today's money adjusted for inflation. An expensive calculator. Maybe donate it to the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge. They have some retro mock-up office exhibits of that period and it's in exhibit condition. They might be interested in it.

[@brutlern]

Try to fix it video turns into a try not to break video.

[@johanlaurasia]

It's not a scientific calculator, it's an accounting calculator. That calculator has GPM (Gross Profit Margin), and ITM I'm unsure but it's accounting related. Also you can fix the decimal position at 2 which is done mainly in accounting.

[@joshuakhull1015]

Can you do more console trying to fix it videos Vince please

[@keithwhisman]

Digital calculators were crazy expensive considering most calculators at the time were analog hand crank operated.

[@_MarginOfError]

What about the cable port on the back?

[@leem1076]

Honestly don’t see why you’d want a 30+ calculator, but hey I’m here

[@Puremindgames]

Just out of curiosity, what do you do with the stuff you fix? Do you keep them or sell them on? Is there method to the madness?

[@richardmatthews711]

I just found a Texas Instruments sr56 in a box. I think it uses a LED type display.

[@t31000]

Trying to find the date,look on the pcb for the date of manufacturing

[@glenbishop2609]

good old days good old ways. it will go for other hundred years

[@red_eclispe71kush19]

your the best vice

[@splatnoah5166]

Great video

[@majoryoshi]

That calculator is approximately $103.78 according to an online inflation calculator, assuming this particular one was purchased in '79.

[@Okurka.]

*was It is probably worth $5 now.

[@emptytomb4967]

it's wonderful it works... the box looks like a lighter color plastic, so you could do like the 8 bit guy and retrobright it, lol.

[@webfischi]

I was already wondering why this vid is just 14 minutes long

[@antoinroberts]

Vince you didnt check the AC jack

[@paulosullivan3472]

Although C and D cell batteries are both 1.5v they produce very different currents. If the seller put C cell batteries in the display may have been flickering on and off which might explain why they thought it was faulty.

[@420gramas7]

I had this type of calculator from Ussr. Powered with AC 220V. Played with it to pretended it was cash register while i was a kid.

[@BBC600]

Ramunas Ram That seems like something I would’ve done! When I was younger one Christmas I was given a cassette tape recorder. I remember that I was sad that it wasn’t an answering machine. I think I might have pretended that it was one if memory serves me right.

[@sublime90]

when "trying to fix" turns into "how to insert batteries"

[@ninjabot1647]

Epic video!

[@GYRUSS]

To test a calculator. Type in 14215469x 5=SHELLOIL if you turn the display upside down.

[@tatwo_]

Put a red film on top of the display to make it red.

[@The_Conspiracy_Analyst]

Oooooh vacuum fluorescent display!

[@Ariidayo]

That is the same calculator I had!

[@Scaze74]

It lookt N.I.B Maby it was from a loot of damaged boxes and u got one of the good ones. You broke the seal. The only thing that is bad on it now ;)

[@TheJeracuda]

pretty sure that Ebay will let you check your purchase history between 3 - 6 months

[@jojoskunk]

AVE time!!! put you got that confuser thing figured out.

[@IBrianrish]

You should give the calculator to Techmoan you know since it's Retro.

[@Okurka.]

And it's an audio device...

[@Reigner1985]

For entertainment purposes only.

[@darkspongebob11]

vincee i can tell by looking its from the 70s...

[@alexanderclark973]

It looks like it was sealed. Maybe they just forgot batteries?

[@danmackintosh6325]

That could well be true, worth investigating the tape on the bag and see if it looks aged. Maybe they just switched it on through the bag & nothing happened, and because it's old & weighs more than something modern they assumed the batteries would already be installed (much like modern calculators)

[@nameless5413]

a guide on how to power on calculator 5* from me! (yes i still want the * system back)

[@adamarzo559]

I've got a bunch of shit in boxes with some masking tape slapped on with the problem + what it is. I would be so fucking lost without this roll of masking tape and permanent marker. I'm sure there are better ways to sort stuff out, but for now slapping some tape on the front of the box is perfect.

[@yummyklown9226]

$29.95 in 1978 would come out to $136.05 today in 2022.

[@DominicSebastianLoftus-br3dg]

I Like My Mate Vince

[@discoHR]

I always liked LED calculators more than LCD but never had one with LED. Time to visit eBay, I guess.

[@swagamotherfr.6696]

Hmm I have a ps4 pro that has the blod wanna make a video on it?

[@cbathinkingofaname8623]

Why did you change your name to my mate vince? If I'm correct it was Mr telephone

[@Ma7hiu5]

I think you'll be better off putting it back in its box and sealing it up and storing it, to then pass it down the family, who knows an old calculator thats fully working and boxed in another 50 years could be worth quite a bit.

[@lex9fy]

It might work cus it had been tossed around when shipping or sat in storage long enough for it to work

[@unknow_oh]

Wow.

[@MrJohnziboi]

Tandy corp i bet the 8 bit guy could tell you about this 😀

[@liammcgroarty7390]

So cool

[@james22939]

I love this so much you so handy

[@CloudyMN]

okay this is epic

[@TheOriginalGabberjaw]

"Not Working" = "I gots meself a couple of really pheckin old batteries that can't power anything but I's gonna use it anywaeee.... weee ittta not powering up, must be shieeet..."

[@pvc988]

My guess is someone tried it with AC adapter and it didn't work because it's evil center negative connector.

[@phaultypmm]

Why is Faulty capitalized in the title? Don't move in on my territory.