The Curta.org Bulletin Board

[MrSmith]

I was curious if anyone here knows the earliest known surviving Curta serial number(s) ?

[murff]

Curta Type I - 912 (lowest is 901)

Curta Type II - 500002 (lowest is 500001)
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[MrSmith]

thank you murff

[stenella]

...and the next one is probably 00923 - which I have

[MrSmith]

Does any earlier numbered Curta mean its more valuable?
Were there any minor changes within the Type 1/2 before serial numbers that would make earlier units more rare?

Or is it more just a cool numbering thing to have a low number unit?

[murff]

Please have a look at variations of Curta Type I and Type II
These different production variations give us the rarities...

And maybe the older Curta didn't survived in the same number as the younger ones...
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[stenella]

Hi MrSmith,

All good questions - a Curta these days is worth what a fool will pay for it. Recently, a Curta of the earliest type (n° 2032) in absolutely derelict condition and in need of total restoration - if it can be saved at all!- sold on our favourite auction site for over 1300 EUR. look for item nr. 391700245867

So apparently the notion that it is "cool" does indeed drive up the price. But the price that we consider "normal" for a Curta - say, 600 EUR, if you're lucky these days - is it really ? I would say a Curta, with the numbers of them that are left today, should be worth about 20-40 EUR. So is there a "Curta bubble" ? In that case there has been one for a long time ...

And yes, there are a few detail differences apart from the serial number in the first 1200 or so machines that allow to discern them from slightly later ones. One of those is the occurrence of engraved numbers at the bottom of the top shroud, above the setting columns, and a matte black instead of gloss canister.

[MrSmith]

Thank you to both of you for the info,

Its great to learn more about the Curta and it is also great to see people chatting here and helping each other out.

[davhamm]

I think the 600 EUR price is a bit low. If you get lucky pretty darn lucky you can find one for that price more likely higher than that and you will be taking a chance on condition.

[curtafan]

Hi murff, do you know if there are three-digit Curtas known with the later "Curta" face and not with the expected "Contina" face?

[murff]

From the first 80 Curtas are about 7 known (901 - 980). As I know they are all labeled "CONTINA", in one case "PATENT CURT HERZSTARK".

In the range of 980 to 1900 are no Curtas known

In the range 1900 to 2000 there are about 7 known Curtas, all labeled "CURTA".

The name "CURTA" was registered October 5, 1948


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[curtafan]

I wanted to know something about the first labels because I'm going to buy Curta #921. And this Curta is labeled "Curta" and not "Contina" as it would be supposed. What might be the reason for this?

[murff]

I would say this is not an authentic Curta Type I #921 - at this time the name CURTA was not born.

Can you post some pictures?
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[curtafan]

I'll post some pics later because currently I have disassembled it for cleaning and installing a new clearing lever. The serial# 921 is triple existent and matching.

[murff]

stenella: