Lightsaber Calculator Bubbles NEW DISCOVERY!!!
- Thread starter Sym-Cha
- Start date
JaxAndTheMoon
Sr Member
Maybe use something to pad the inside of the clamp? A thin piece of foam so that it doesn't hide to much on that one side?
That's what I'm thinking. If I use it on a canon it has that little channel under where the card would rest, I could glue it to some sintra or styrene to fit.
Seriously-- these little puzzles are what I live for. Taking junk apart and making sabers is such therapy for me.
Seriously-- these little puzzles are what I live for. Taking junk apart and making sabers is such therapy for me.
veektohr
Sr Member
I want that.
Regarding the Canon, that channel works great for holding a circuit beneath the bubbles. There's even a spring loaded pin that will push back up on it for a very tight fit - no epoxy necessary (Scott will be proud).
I just bought an Exactra 20 this morning off of Ebay. The seller has 100% approval and over 4,000 sales so I think it's legit.
But this was my first search for this calculator ever. I was really surprised that I found one so easily. I thought they all had been gobbled up - like the original Graflex.
I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer.
1. The picture of the one I bought looks like the exact same model as the one at the beginning of this thread. Is there a chance I got the right calculator but the wrong bubbles?
2. Are they rare? Or do they actually come up a lot on Ebay still?
3. (Thinking they were really rare), I jumped on "buy it now" for $99. Was that a good price? A bad price?
UPDATE: I've been reading this thread a bit more and it seems there might be more than one type of bubbles. The auction description for the one I bought says it's a vintage 1974.
But this was my first search for this calculator ever. I was really surprised that I found one so easily. I thought they all had been gobbled up - like the original Graflex.
I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer.
1. The picture of the one I bought looks like the exact same model as the one at the beginning of this thread. Is there a chance I got the right calculator but the wrong bubbles?
2. Are they rare? Or do they actually come up a lot on Ebay still?
3. (Thinking they were really rare), I jumped on "buy it now" for $99. Was that a good price? A bad price?
UPDATE: I've been reading this thread a bit more and it seems there might be more than one type of bubbles. The auction description for the one I bought says it's a vintage 1974.
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veektohr
Sr Member
$100 is a pretty average BIN price, so I wouldn't feel like you got hosed or anything. I haven't seen any go for less than $75 in a while, at least not on the popular sites. Exactras still seem to pop up quite often, and I wouldn't worry about "wrong" bubbles. The 19/20/TI-2000 will all get you a strip perfect for making a lightsaber activation matrix with 
The 19 and 20 always have the correct 7 bubble strip and never have a different bubble strip. Unless it's not original and has been tampered with.
Some have the clear bubbles and others have the frosted strip, I believe only in the 20.
Some have the clear bubbles and others have the frosted strip, I believe only in the 20.
newmagrathea
Sr Member
Do you have a link you could share, I'm very interested in getting one for my ESB Vader saber.
I just ordered 2 of these things. Unfortunately the spacing won't be 100% accurate to the exactra bubbles, but the circuit board underneath really adds a huge mojo factor. I plan to use at least 1 in a custom saber :cool Plus, as a synthesizer freak, I think it's awesome that these can be used as a Memorymoog display.
EDIT
PS
It looks like these are being currently manufactured. Apparently the company Three Five Corp makes custom displays for people. I wonder how much it would cost to do a run of Exactra-type bubbles and PCBs. Someone (that isn't me) should take the initiative
http://threefivecorp.com/index.php/solutions/display-solutions
EDIT
PS
It looks like these are being currently manufactured. Apparently the company Three Five Corp makes custom displays for people. I wonder how much it would cost to do a run of Exactra-type bubbles and PCBs. Someone (that isn't me) should take the initiative
http://threefivecorp.com/index.php/solutions/display-solutions
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So which version do I have? Based on the photos at the start of this thread, I think I have the Exactra 20 and not the 20*
Oh... how does the bubble strip come off? Is it glued? Do I gently pry it off? Thanks.
@Kym-Cha
Based on the photos at the start of this thread, I think I have the Exactra 20 and not the 20*Oh... how does the bubble strip come off? Is it glued? Do I gently pry it off? Thanks.
@Kym-Cha
@Trilan Post a picture of your vintage calculator when it arrives ... I'm curious to see whether you have the 'flattened' edged or almost roundish bubbles inside and congratulations on a great score
Chaim
hmmm can't find the seller... is it done?
So which version do I have?
Oh... how does the bubble strip come off? Is it glued? Do I gently pry it off? Thanks.
View attachment 601731
@Kym-Cha
Flat edge, clear.
Jedi Reali
Sr Member
Bend up the circuit board and look at the underside of it. You'll see the backs of the clear plastic pegs that connect the bubble strip to the board. Take an Exacto and cut off the flat ends of those pegs and you'll be able to pop the bubble strip off of the board.
