The Curta.org Bulletin Board

[murff]

Known (and unknown) Curta prototypes and variants





Here is an overview of the known (and unknown) prototypes and variants of the Curta.
The topic is already old, but it is still not clear what exactly was developed, built and tested in the early days of the Contina AG.
Corresponding records certainly existed, but not all of them have come to light yet...


Overview Curta Type I
-- "CONTINA" - 8 X 6 X 11 - Prototype Series (1948)
-- Curta Type I - 8 X 6 X 11 - The standard series model
-- Curta Type Ia - 8 X 6 X 11 - Prototype Series of about 100 pieces (1961)
-- Curta Type I - 9 X 7 X 12 - Prototype, mentioned in the Herzstark biography

Overview Curta Type II
-- Curta Type II - 11 X 8 X 15 - The standard series model
-- Curta Type II - 11 X 8 X 15 - like the Type 1a, one sample known (1961)
-- Curta Type II - 12 X 9 X 16 - Prototype, mentioned in the Herzstark biography
-- Curta Type II - 10 X 9 X 17 - Brochure Vienna 1946 - Size II
-- Curta Type II - 11 X 9 X 14 - published in one of the brochures 1949/1950
-- Curta Type IIa - 12 X 7 X 16 - published in one of the brochures 1949/1950, P-004 and P-005 (1949)


Prototype Series
The known numbers suggest that there was a small series of prototypes - this makes sense, since different variants can be used to test and optimize the functions...

Serial numbers Curta Type IIa
-- P-001 - unknown existence
-- P-002 - unknown existence
-- P-003 - was owned by Curt Herzstark - lost, proof of existence inaccurate
-- P-004 - origin: family owned, development engineer Contina AG
-- P-005 - prototype not complete, origin known
-- P-006 - ???

I'm sure more is known about this! Is there any further information on these prototypes?

Who knows of other specimens or documents?


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[murff]

Compilation of the named and planned calculating machines, prototypes and series models



This newly compiled overview shows the entire range of CURTA calculators...


_________________
:: m u r f f
:: curta.li