Hey, that little gear‑loop thing could be a badge from the manufacturer, like a tiny logo that slipped into the mold when they were hand‑crafting parts back in the 60s. Those days they didn’t have the high‑precision dies we do now, so a design quirk could easily become a recurring symbol, almost like a secret handshake among factory workers. But if you’re hunting for hidden meaning, you might look at the pattern in the loop—does it line up with any old computing sigils, or could it be a stylized “C” for “Calc” or a nod to the brand’s name? Often the first thing you check is the company’s registry or patent filings; sometimes a small mark turns out to be an early prototype tag or a safety feature identifier. If you’ve got a photo, overlay it with known logos from that era and see if the gear shape matches any of them. In short, most likely a design quirk, but a quick check of the brand’s old marks could confirm or unveil something fun—just don’t let the gear loop distract you from the bigger picture.

Sounds like you’ve got the right idea—most of those little marks are just leftover from the mould or a quick logo that slipped in. But before you ditch it for a prank‑badge, try a quick side‑by‑side with the catalog you’re looking for; sometimes a tiny loop can be a maker’s way of stamping their brand, or a safety‑code tag that nobody cared to notice until the ‘80s. If you can’t find a match, then you might be onto something like a hidden Easter egg, but it’s probably just a harmless quirk. In any case, give the gear a quick scan to see if the circuit traces still look fine—you never know, that little icon might still be the only thing that survived the dust‑off.