The 50 yr old HP 12c is unchanged & still the favored workhorse?

I think that’s amazing! For all of the progress in electronics and computing over the last half century, this little pocket calculator is still the most ubiquitous device in the financial industry, still available, identical to the one in my hand, that’s been passed down in my family for over 50 years — and with only 4 changes of batteries!The only one they could possibly have passed down for 50 years is the HP-45 and it was a scientific calculator http://www.hpmuseum.org/hp45.htm I think I paid about $335 in 1973 dollars for one and it’s long gone.

My 12-C is still around, but it sure eats batteries just sitting there.since this calculator was released in 1981 (31 years ago) how did you have it almost 20 years before that?

calculators are generally fairly reliable to begin with.Yes, it is something. They were the standard of the industry when I was in graduate school in the 90′s.
What is your question?