Curta Type I - A dream come true

What material is it made out of?

Everything I can touch feels like steel. I don't know if they used other materials on the inside. This one was made in 1958. They started making some parts out of plastic in later versions.

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Sweet, I probably ground a ton of pepper with one of those back in the 70s.

Solars, Traverses, triangulation, all sorts of good stuff.

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Thank you for adding that Loyal. I've been curious about how many surveyors used these before the proliferation of electric calculators. Or even what most surveyors used before electronic devices. I know slide rules were common but they don't get the precision needed for many surveying uses.

We had them in the 60's and 70's. Not common being government purchase.

Used mainly on cadastral work, closes, calculations, comparisons.?ÿ

I wasn't priveleged with one unfortunately.

There's one buried on the side of the road (road construction casualty). It was in the days before metal detectors so virtually impossible to find. Every time I drive past that spot it reminds of the day 'Doug lost his Curta'.

Have you got the nicely made circular leather case too??ÿ

We had them in the 60's and 70's. Not common being government purchase.

Used mainly on cadastral work, closes, calculations, comparisons.?ÿ

I wasn't priveleged with one unfortunately.

There's one buried on the side of the road (road construction casualty). It was in the days before metal detectors so virtually impossible to find. Every time I drive past that spot it reminds of the day 'Doug lost his Curta'.

Have you got the nicely made circular leather case too??ÿ

A fine piece of ingenuity.

My old mentor, Ernie, showed me how to use mine.

I still have it.

Hope you got a good price, they average around $1500 used on ebay?ÿ ??ÿ

Unsolicited advice:?ÿ If your Curta binds up,?ÿ do not attempt disassembly, you'll never be able to put it back together. ??ÿ

I have a Monroe Comptometer in my warehouse but it was about a hundred pounds, runs off 110vdc and only adds or subtracts. Not very practical in the field. I wouldn't mind acquiring a curta in the future.

?ÿ Looks pretty easy to put together!!?ÿ ?ÿYIKES!!?ÿ?ÿ

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https://www.ebay.com/itm/THE-CURTA-CALCULATOR-POSTER/323256217342?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D50543%26meid%3D1296bc1496c84fe08ae2c25192db7a35%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D122425374006%26itm%3D323256217342&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Here's one with the leather case.

I bought one new in the early 70's.
It was a fantastic machine, it was the mini version (aka Type I).
I sold it after a couple years to buy a Sears electronic calculator with trig functions. I needed to fill my lunchbox with AA batteries.

I now have one on order, a family heirloom. Belonged to my cousin Dick, RIP.?ÿ
Not sure, it may be a type II

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Posted by: Andy J

?ÿ Looks pretty easy to put together!!?ÿ ?ÿYIKES!!?ÿ?ÿ

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https://www.ebay.com/itm/THE-CURTA-CALCULATOR-POSTER/323256217342?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D50543%26meid%3D1296bc1496c84fe08ae2c25192db7a35%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D122425374006%26itm%3D323256217342&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

I remember that poster (or one much like it) on the wall at Santa Rosa Blueprint, our local survey supply shop. It was a Big Deal for them when I bought mine, with the leather belt case. High Dollar item, several week wages.

thanks for the link, I may buy that poster.

I've been waiting for awhile to buy one of these. But not for $1500.?ÿ Someday I will stumble on one at a estate sale, maybe.?ÿ

Posted by: Scotland

I've been waiting for awhile to buy one of these. But not for $1500.?ÿ Someday I will stumble on one at a estate sale, maybe.?ÿ

They often sell for half of that, or less. Keep an eye on eBay.

According to Wikipedia, the Curta sold for $125 in the latter years of manufacture. Using the inflation from 1970 to present, $125 would come to $800. Probably not too many pieces of old technology that have held their value that well.