Curta Mechanical Calculator
Every collector’s dream is the Curta mechanical calculator, a device that still retains the status of a cult invention. Up until the advent of electronic computing devices in the 70s of the last century, this device, similar to the old coffee grinder, was considered the most convenient pocket calculator. The highlight of the device is that it was completely mechanical. No electricity for you, no batteries, just a few hundred tiny parts.
The inventor of this apparatus, Kurt Hertzstark (1902-1988), is the son of a Viennese businessman. Hertzstark Sr. led the enterprise for the production of high-precision mechanical devices, on which Kurt made his first steps in mechanics. At the time, pocket calculators already existed, but they could only add and subtract. Hertsshtark also wanted to create an adding machine that can perform all four actions. In the winter of 1938, the first full-fledged sample was built, but mass production did not begin: the war prevented it.
')
In 1943, Kurt Herzstak was arrested on charges of "complicity with the Jews", as well as "vicious ties with Aryan women." After a long ordeal in prisons, he ended up in a concentration camp in Buchenwald.
Having learned who fell into his hands, the camp commander was very pleased. Hertztstark's invention seemed like a great gift for the Fuhrer. Kurt was given a drawing board and ordered to make a drawing from memory. Working day and night, the inventor restored the calculator circuit. However, Hitler did not receive his present: in 1945, all prisoners of the camp were released by American troops.
With a complete set of drawings, Herzstark was released. Prince Liechtenstein allowed him to build a factory and in 1947 the mass production of the device began. At first they wanted to call the calculator “Liliput”, but the name did not stick. At the trade fair of 1948 in Basel, one of the participants dropped: “This car is Mr. Herzstark's daughter. If the father’s name is Kurt, then the daughter should be called Kurt. ”
Curta is the most compact of all mechanical pocket calculators that have ever been invented. The device weighs only 100 grams. But he works quite an adult. The first Curta were 11-bit (Curta I), in 1954 the 15-bit model (Curta II) appeared. We add that this wonderful machine could calculate square roots and allowed to multiply by nine with just two turns of the handle.
Until 1947, the basis of all mechanical calculators was a stepped drum (following the example of Leibniz) or a bobbin wheel (invented by Odner). Kurt Hertzstark proposed something new - the so-called supplemented stepped drum.
The “augmented” drum simplifies the work because it allows you to perform different arithmetic operations on the same algorithm. For example, subtracting is converted into addition. How? Let's explain by example:
Suppose we need to solve this problem: 219875 - 5789 =?
Suppose we have an 11-bit calculator
..00 000 219 875 - Reduced
..00 000 005 789 - Subtracted
..99 999 994 210 - We supplement each digit of the deductible up to nine
100 000 214 085 - We add lines 1 and 3
Since the number 1 lies outside the 11-bit range, we simply cut it off. Final
the result was shorter by one bit, so we add one to the value of the lowest bit.
..00 000 214 086 - The Right Answer
Modern calculators perform subtraction operations using the same algorithm. The only difference is that electronic devices use a binary number system.
Well, and a few pictures in the end:
Curta I with round mounting knobs. On the right is the carriage. Its white part is the six-digit rev counter, the dark part is the 11-bit result window.
Detail of a classic calculator with a stepped drum. Four gears of stepped drums are clearly visible, with the help of which the number is set (the digits increase from left to right). The desired number is set using the slider.
A diagram explaining the principle of operation of the Hertztstark supplemental stepped drum (by reference 3D-visualization).
On the left is the early 11-bit Curta I, the handle of which is placed in the position to perform subtraction. On the right is the later Curta I, the handle of which is placed in the position to perform addition. Vertical shift - only 3 mm.
PS By the way, in the work, Curta made a sound similar to the rumbling of a well-fed cat.
The PPS Curta is the only arithmometer ever recorded on postage stamps (Liechtenstein).
PPPS The topic was already posted in February , but unfortunately I didn’t find it on the Habr search. On the other hand, there is no such hackneyed topic that you can’t kick again.
via: vcalc.net
The inventor of this apparatus, Kurt Hertzstark (1902-1988), is the son of a Viennese businessman. Hertzstark Sr. led the enterprise for the production of high-precision mechanical devices, on which Kurt made his first steps in mechanics. At the time, pocket calculators already existed, but they could only add and subtract. Hertsshtark also wanted to create an adding machine that can perform all four actions. In the winter of 1938, the first full-fledged sample was built, but mass production did not begin: the war prevented it.
')
In 1943, Kurt Herzstak was arrested on charges of "complicity with the Jews", as well as "vicious ties with Aryan women." After a long ordeal in prisons, he ended up in a concentration camp in Buchenwald.
Having learned who fell into his hands, the camp commander was very pleased. Hertztstark's invention seemed like a great gift for the Fuhrer. Kurt was given a drawing board and ordered to make a drawing from memory. Working day and night, the inventor restored the calculator circuit. However, Hitler did not receive his present: in 1945, all prisoners of the camp were released by American troops.
With a complete set of drawings, Herzstark was released. Prince Liechtenstein allowed him to build a factory and in 1947 the mass production of the device began. At first they wanted to call the calculator “Liliput”, but the name did not stick. At the trade fair of 1948 in Basel, one of the participants dropped: “This car is Mr. Herzstark's daughter. If the father’s name is Kurt, then the daughter should be called Kurt. ”
Curta is the most compact of all mechanical pocket calculators that have ever been invented. The device weighs only 100 grams. But he works quite an adult. The first Curta were 11-bit (Curta I), in 1954 the 15-bit model (Curta II) appeared. We add that this wonderful machine could calculate square roots and allowed to multiply by nine with just two turns of the handle.
Until 1947, the basis of all mechanical calculators was a stepped drum (following the example of Leibniz) or a bobbin wheel (invented by Odner). Kurt Hertzstark proposed something new - the so-called supplemented stepped drum.
The “augmented” drum simplifies the work because it allows you to perform different arithmetic operations on the same algorithm. For example, subtracting is converted into addition. How? Let's explain by example:
Suppose we need to solve this problem: 219875 - 5789 =?
Suppose we have an 11-bit calculator
..00 000 219 875 - Reduced
..00 000 005 789 - Subtracted
..99 999 994 210 - We supplement each digit of the deductible up to nine
100 000 214 085 - We add lines 1 and 3
Since the number 1 lies outside the 11-bit range, we simply cut it off. Final
the result was shorter by one bit, so we add one to the value of the lowest bit.
..00 000 214 086 - The Right Answer
Modern calculators perform subtraction operations using the same algorithm. The only difference is that electronic devices use a binary number system.
Well, and a few pictures in the end:
Curta I with round mounting knobs. On the right is the carriage. Its white part is the six-digit rev counter, the dark part is the 11-bit result window.
Detail of a classic calculator with a stepped drum. Four gears of stepped drums are clearly visible, with the help of which the number is set (the digits increase from left to right). The desired number is set using the slider.
A diagram explaining the principle of operation of the Hertztstark supplemental stepped drum (by reference 3D-visualization).
On the left is the early 11-bit Curta I, the handle of which is placed in the position to perform subtraction. On the right is the later Curta I, the handle of which is placed in the position to perform addition. Vertical shift - only 3 mm.
PS By the way, in the work, Curta made a sound similar to the rumbling of a well-fed cat.
The PPS Curta is the only arithmometer ever recorded on postage stamps (Liechtenstein).
PPPS The topic was already posted in February , but unfortunately I didn’t find it on the Habr search. On the other hand, there is no such hackneyed topic that you can’t kick again.
via: vcalc.net
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/41694/
All Articles