Unusual Type II Curta Mechanical Calculator & Case Ser. #513241 (Nov. 1959)

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Unusual Type II Curta Mechanical Calculator & Case Ser. #513241 (Nov. 1959):
$972.39

Unusual Type II Curta MechanicalCalculator & Case Serial No. 513241 Manufactured in November 1959

These mechanical marvels were invented by AustrianCurt Herzstark during WWII, while imprisoned in Buchenwald concentration Camp, althoughhe had taken out two patentscovering the design principles of the calculator in 1938. Kurt andhisdrawings survived the War and production of his Calculators commencedin 1947, in Mauren, Liechstenstein, with Curt himself as supervisingengineer. The Curta is still the smallest mechanical calculator evermade! Factory records from 1947 to 1970 have been saved, allowing theproduction date of any Curta machine to be derived from it\'s serialnumber. This Curta, serial number 513241 was delivered from the factoryin November 1959. Some other details follow:

Characteristics of the Curta Serial Number 513241:

Type:

Date of manufacture:

November 1959

Age:

55 years old

Total Curtas Type 2 produced:

61660

Total Production Number:

From the start: 13241, Up to the end: 48419

Curtas Type 2 produced in 1959:

2000

Production Number of 1959:

From the start: 1721, Up to the end: 279

Precision of registers:

11, 15, 8 (Digits of Input, Result & Counter register)

Colour of the body (*):

Light grey

Style of setting knobs (*):

Rectangular with teeth, Red-Black-Black pattern

Style of operating handle (*):

Metal, rounded top with arrow, red stripe for subtract

Style of the Canister (*):

Metal, opens clockwise

Each Type II Curta is made from more than600individual parts, most of them custom designed and hand-made.The Type II can calculate to 15 significant figures. As well as addition, subtraction, multiplicationand division, the Curta can calculate square roots, natural logarithmsand exponential functions. Full instructions for these functions areincluded. Curtas were used in a wide variety of engineering applications,however the most well known was probably in motor rallying, where its ruggedconstruction and manual operation made it ideal in time-speed-distance (TSD)rallies to aid in computation of times to checkpoints, distances off-course andother factors.

There are five different variants of the Type IICurta, involving the use of different materials, profiles and base printinglayout. This one is quite unusual, with a combination of grey body andmetal case. There is a web-based list ofall known Curtas with their serial numbers, which can be updated by a newowner. Details are included with the delivery. Curta #513241 willcome to you in full working order and in excellent condition. It passesall the established Curta calculation tests and all operations are silkysmooth.

This particular example shows no signs of operationaluse except for very minor wear on the base of the calculator and its case.There are comparatively few Curtas still surviving the advent of the electroniccalculator, even fewer in such excellent condition as this one and a very smallnumber which find their way on to the market. Curta owners tend to hangon to them!

I shall be happy tosend by trackable andfully insured mailto the UK, most other EU countries, USA/Canada andAustralia/New Zealand. Outside the EU, please contact me for the bestshipping cost to your country.

FREE cash and collect from W. Sussex, UK.