Curta Mechanical Calculator
physical object
Identifier
2018.11.1
Description
Curta Mechanical calculator Type II No.539608. The Curta calculator was developed by Curt Herzstark in the 1930's in Austria. In 1943 the inventor of the device was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp due to his fathers Jewish Heritage. At the camp Curt was allowed by the head of the scheduling department to work on his device further. By the time the camp was liberated by American soldiers in 1945 Curt had developed detailed blueprints for a manufacturable device. The Curta calculator was considered the best pocket calculator until the 1970s when digital pocket calculators became more readily available and affordable. According to the serial number, this particular device was manufactured in January of 1967.
Related Term
mechanical calculating devices (is described by)
