Very Well Preserved and Working Curta II Calculator. Liechtenstein, 1950s-60s

This curious and attractive calculator is a Curta II, a very famous and popular model made in Liechtenstein in the 1950-60s. It is a reliable machine, easy to use, that has survived to our days in excellent condition and perfect working order. The calculator can perform the four basic arithmetical operations addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) with full accuracy, and also more complex operations with some more difficulty. This concrete piece shows off an optimal condition, preserving the original case and component parts. It boasts an appealing design, being a charming machine with a strong personality. Curta calculators have a fascinating story behind. They were conceived and designed by Curt Herzstark (1902-1988) in Austria, in the 1930s. Herzstarks mother was a Catolic and his father was a Jew, and he was sent to Buchwald Concentration Camp during World War II. While he was there, the Nazi authorities promoted the development of his invention with the idea of giving it to Hitler as a gift when Germany won the war. Herzstark started drawing his ideas and when Buchenwald was liberated by the United States he located a factory in Sommertal where he could bring his invention to life. Curta calculators have been considered the best portable calculators ever until the arrival of electronic calculators in the 1070s. This particular piece boasts the compact design that turned them into very popular items: numbers are entered using the slides on the side of the cylinder and then the operation to perform must be selected. With just a turn of the crank the result appears at the top of the machine; to choose the operation, the user must manipulate the crank. At the bottom of this calculator we can see the fabrication data and its serial number: Nº 519317, as well as the place where it was made: Liechtenstein. This Curta II calculator is a historic model and a fully reliable and precise machine, essential for a complete collection of vintage calculators. Measurements: Width: 2.3 in/6 cm. Height: 4.3 in/ 11 cm.