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Curta - the amazing pocket calculator

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:41 am
by Suskis
I discovered the Revomaze while desperately looking for a Curta calculator.

Image

The Curta is a small, hand-cranked mechanical calculator introduced in 1948. It has an extremely compact design, a small cylinder that fits in the palm of the hand. It can be used to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and, with more difficulty, square roots and other operations.

This amazing machine is, in my opinion, the 1st portable computer that has ever been made. It's even more amazing considering its inventor created it while imprisoned in a Nazi camp!

The story of this marvel is so fascinating I felt the urge to own one. But its price (usually around 1500$) was too much for my pockets.

So, when I first saw the Revomaze, I was intrigued and at the same time I felt it shared the same cylindrical-rotation, amazing designed pocketness of the Curta!

And now, after over 1,5 years of patient Ebay hunting, I have my $400 Curta!

Learn more about it: I bet you'll be intrigued as well..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curta_calculator

Re: Curta - the amazing pocket calculator

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:49 am
by maztec
Phah! My Ebay alerts failed me :(.

Re: Curta - the amazing pocket calculator

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:51 am
by Muttleydog
If it gets the calculation wrong does it fall into a trap and make you start the whole sum again? Nice pic I like it. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Curta - the amazing pocket calculator

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 10:35 am
by Stigy
That looks pretty cool :!:
If anyone sees the number 7 Curta come up for sale let me know ;)

Re: Curta - the amazing pocket calculator

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:44 pm
by mhuti
Wow, I wasn't aware of this item, thanks for sharing this information I will look into it in more detail. :D

Re: Curta - the amazing pocket calculator

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:19 pm
by Sejanus
I have never heard of a CURTA before, but that sure looks amazing. Might have to try to get one someday. :D

Re: Curta - the amazing pocket calculator

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:21 pm
by Gdamatov77
^yea, me 2. After i spend my life savings on my Breitling watch and SLR Mclaren. I am thinking of getting one much later on in my life, it looks cool, and sounds cool. But too expensive for my taste at the current moment

Re: Curta - the amazing pocket calculator

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:40 pm
by maztec
I'd rather get a Hasselblad SLR.

Re: Curta - the amazing pocket calculator

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:45 pm
by allardwza
Hmmm, nice glass....

Re: Curta - the amazing pocket calculator

Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:34 pm
by Suskis
It's true this vintage items are quite expensive, but I think of them as works of art. And indeed, looking at its awesome detail and miniaturization, I can say it radiates charme. Once you get into its world, you become more and more fascinated. Also, its clicks are musical to my ears!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYsOi6L_Pw4