Object Record
Curta Co. Cylindrical Calculator
| Catalog Number | 89.0001.012 |
| Title | Curta Co Cylindrical (Mechanical) Calculating Machine Type 1 |
| Collection | DeWitt Stetten, Jr. Collection |
| History |
From the NIH Record, December 8, 1992, page 3: "This Curta calculating machine is a mechanical version of today’s electronic hand-held calculator. It could add, subtract, multiply, divide, find square roots, and perform statistical functions. It was developed in Liechtenstein, a country noted for its precision mechanical instruments. This particular calculator belonged to Dr. DeWitt Stetten, Jr., founder of the museum." From the "Mathematical Handbook: An Aid to Every Day Figuring Problems, Tables, Formulas, Arithmetical Rules," The Curta Company, undated: "The businessman on his trips, the professional account at his client’s offices, the building contractor on the building site, the technician in the workshop, the draughtsman at his drawing board, professors and students, they all use and prefer CURTA for its handiness and accuracy. "Wherever it is inconvenient to use noisy machines or to transport heavy and bulky instruments, all the outstanding advantages of the CURTA become fully evident...With the CURTA a miniature universal calculating machine of an entirely new design has been created. Hand operated, with ‘safe-grip’ setting knobs, visible setting dial and continuous tens transfer in the answering and the indicating dial." |
| Description |
.01 Black metal cylinder. Top and bottom around cylinder have textured rings (top ring has numbers on underlip). Side of the cylinder has numbers with sliding indicators. Top has numbers around edge which show through cut outs as they rotate. Turning arm on very top. .02-03 Metal case is also black metal. It screws into two pieces, approximately even in size. The bottom portion has a sticker on its bottom which says "Made in Liechtenstein." The top has in silver letters "CURTA" and an arrow pointing to how to turn with "Open" printed on it. There is a red adhesive sticker which says "DeWitt Stetten, Jr." on it. There is also a metal tag engraved with "System Curt Herzstark, Made in Liechtenstein, by Contina AG Mauren, Type 1 No. 53384" 89.0001.012.01 - Curta Cylindrical Calculating Machine 89.0001.012.02 - Metal Case 89.0001.012.03 - Metal Case Lid |
| Other Name | Calculator |
| Date | circa 1948 |
| NIH Property # | none |
| Old NIH Property # | none |
| Serial # | 53384 |
| People |
Stetten, DeWitt |