Antique Brunswiga 13 RK Mechanical Calculator. Germany, 1950s

Striking antique Brunsviga 13 RK mechanical calculator made in Germany in the 1950s. This gorgeous calculator remains in a wonderful condition and shows off a perfect working order. Its knobs, cranks and buttons make it possible to perform arithmetic operations, being also a pleasure to operate for their soft and fluid movements. The calculator has a metal case with a fine golden-grey hammered enameled finish. The knobs, handles and pointers are made of burgundy plastic; both colors make up a very attractive combination that provides the calculator with a very special beauty. The chromed-metal mobile component parts are also finely preserved and show no signs of rust or wear. At the front side of the calculator, to the left of the numerals we can see the brand name BRUNSVIGA in embossed white-and-red-painted lettering. If we take a look at the back of the machine we will find a riveted metal plate with the name of the manufacturing company, OLYMPIA WERKE AG Brunsviga Werke BRAUNCHSWEIG. Last but not least, at the base of the calculator there is a small metal plate with the models name (Brunsviga 13 RK) and another plate with an engraved serial number. This antique Brunsviga 13 RK mechanical calculator stands out for its amazing look, great condition and flawless working order, features that turn it into a real collectors piece. Measurements (without cranks): Width: 9.2 in / 23 cm. Depth: 8.6 in / 21.5 cm. Height: 6.4 in / 16 cm. Brunsviga Calculators History The firm Grimme, Natalis & Co (GNC) was established in 1871 to build sewing machines and domestic appliances at Braunschweig, Germany. In 1892 engineer Franz Trinks was instrumental in securing the manufacturing rights to the Odhner calculator patents. The first machines were built according to W.T. Odhner's 1890 design and were distributed under the brand name "Brunsviga" (Latin for Braunschweig). Trinks continued to develop and refine the Brunsviga calculator over a period of almost 30 years. The "new Brunsviga" range appeared in 1925, and the "13-series" in 1927. Production resumed after the 1939-45 war with a new range of 13-series machines, a motorised version of the stepped-drum machine, and a range of small adding machines. Grimme, Natalis & Co was originally established as a "Commanditgesellschaft auf Aktien". On its fiftieth anniversary in 1921 it became Grimme, Natalis & Co AG. In 1927 the name was changed to "Brunsviga Maschinenwerke Grimme, Natalis & Co AG", and later to just "Brunsviga Maschinenwerke AG" In 1957 Brunsviga entered into an agreement with Olympia Werke AG, which led ultimately to the company being absorbed into Olympia in 1959. Production continued for a time as the Brunsviga Division of Olympia, before coming to an end in the late 1960s. About half a million Brunsviga machines were produced over a period of almost eighty years. The Trinks-Brunsviga calculators work with the pinwheel system developed by W.T. Odhner in the 1870s. It was inspired in turn by the arithmometer designed by Leibniz in the 16th century.