Its not a perfect image, but it seems there was more than one (see link below)

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2fBcKuPgMY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

What we see here is the "CONTINA" canister on Curt Herzstark's desk (see also here...).



The Liechtenstein NationalMuseum and the Arithmeum, University of Bonn, Germany claim to own this first Curta - and both also state that the canister unfortunately no longer exists (according to my research, the Arithmeum is indeed in possession of the first Curta...). There is currently no information proving the existence of another copy.

After the renaming from "CONTINA" to "CURTA", both the collars on the calculators and the canisters were replaced - this was already the case with the sales prototype series of around 100 units.

murff wrote:

What we see here is the "CONTINA" canister on Curt Herzstark's desk (see also here...). The Liechtenstein NationalMuseum and the Arithmeum, University of Bonn, Germany claim to own this first Curta - and both also state that the canister unfortunately no longer exists (according to my research, the Arithmeum is indeed in possession of the first Curta...). There is currently no information proving the existence of another copy. After the renaming from "CONTINA" to "CURTA", both the collars on the calculators and the canisters were replaced - this was already the case with the sales prototype series of around 100 units.

Thanks Murff.

Yes, that's the photograph that I cut it from (Curt at his desk).

The thing that I thought was interesting was that the design of the canister pictured is different from the beautiful example you have shown previously ... so I guess there was a bit of prototyping with canisters as well as machines.

Yes, you are right - the canisters are different. I also assume that a suitable storage container was sought in addition to the calculators. We even know of one made of leather.

It's a pity that not all the test objects survived... that would be an interesting insight into the development...