Antique Soviet Felix Calculator. Russia, 1930's

Amazing antique Soviet Felix calculator, coming from Russia and made in the 1930s. This is a real museum piece for its original quality and excellent condition. The calculator works with a pinwheel system, similar to the one designed by W.T. Odhner in the late 19th century, and makes it possible to perform the four basic arithmetical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) with perfect outcomes. The knobs, levers and cranks of this machine are in perfect working order, fluid and softly, and it is a real pleasure to operate them. Aesthetically the calculator is also in awesome condition, being a piece worthy of inclusion in a museum or a relevant collection. The calculator stands on a solid wooden base with a black-enameled finish. It is provided with four circular rubber legs that help steady the machine. The metal casing bears the original black-lacquered finish in very good condition: it looks shiny, even and regular and makes the white-enameled letters and numerals stand out perfectly. At the front side of the calculator, to the left of the levers and the numerals we can see the Felix brand name in Cyrillic characters. Last but not least, the chromed-metal component parts, the black plastic knobs and the pointers are in perfect condition, almost flawless. This superb antique Felix calculator will stand out in any collection, study or living room for its personality and good condition.Felix Calculators History The first pinwheel calculator was designed by W.T. Odhner in Saint Petersburg in 1886. After the Revolution of 1917, the USSR government nationalized the invention. The Soviets kept on manufacturing Odhner aritmomethers (calculators) under the Iron Felix name after a famous and dark character: Felix Dzerzhinsky. Dzerzhinsky founded the Soviet calculator factory in Moscow in 1924, and was also the founder of the famous Cheka (Bolshevik secret police). He was sadly notorious for his hardness and was awarded the nickname Iron Felix, just like the calculator, among his own colleagues.