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Curta Related Historical Trivia Question

 
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Rubberswan



Joined: 19 Apr 2016
Posts: 27
Location: UK

PostPosted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:21 pm    Post subject: Curta Related Historical Trivia Question Reply with quote

Hi all,

A question for you (I know the answer!)

The calculators in the photograph below were all available on the UK market in 1966:



They numbers next to the machines identify them respectively as:

1) Brunsviga 13RK
2) Precisa 117
3) Muldivo Mentor (a.k.a. Walther WSR160)
4) ADM (a.k.a. Schubert DRV)
5) Curta Type 1

The numbers 1 to 5 are NOT randomly allocated. This being the case, why do you think the machines are numbered in the order given?

(I'll wait a few days before I give the answer if no-one gets it!)

Best Regards

John
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Curta 1 - 61153
Curta 2 - 508965
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murff



Joined: 27 Oct 2009
Posts: 592
Location: Switzerland

PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 11:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

not the registers
1) 10 x 8 x 13
2) 9 x 8 x 13
3) 10 x 8 x 16
4) 10 x 8 x 13
5) 8 x 6 x 11

nor the weight
1) 8160g
2) 6900g
3) 4650g
4) 5515g
5) 230g

Question
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Rubberswan



Joined: 19 Apr 2016
Posts: 27
Location: UK

PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

And here's the answer you've all been waiting for:

(and thanks to murff for trying...)

Believe it or not, the numbers are in order of descending 1966 price.

1) Brunsviga 13RK - £63 Sterling
2) Precisa 117 - £56 5s
3) Muldivo Mentor - £49 10s
4) ADM Teacher - £45
5) Curta Type I - £34

These prices were those available to schools, and included "a manufacturer's educational reduction, and a Board of Trade remission of import duty". So the retail prices would have been a bit higher across the board, but would have been in approximately the same order - unless some manufacturers were more heavily discounted than others.

A decent Muldivo Mentor can be bought today for £20. Curtas are a tad more expensive....
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davhamm



Joined: 08 Nov 2015
Posts: 148
Location: Michigan

PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dang I was going to guess price, as I just read this thread. A day late and dollar short.
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