Curta calculator - broken shaft fixed - (PWJ203)
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- I bought a Curta 2 mechanical calculator from 1961 and it has a broken crankshaft. My first try to braze the broken part back to the shaft didn't work but the second try did!
With a short explanation how that marvellous thing works.
The brazing wire is from CFH and is called SH320, silver based.
Curt Herzstark, born in 1902 in Vienna, Austria, created the Curta (then called Lilliput) during WW2 while being prisoner of the germans. After the war he tried to find a manufacturer for the machine but was not successful. Then he got an invitation from the prince of Liechtenstein who wanted more industry in his country. So they founded Contina Ltd. and began manufacturing the Curta until 1970.
I can't blame you for not wanting to disassemble it. I have to believe doing so without knowing exactly what you're doing would result in a literal explosion of uber tiny gears, springs, and detent balls. That said, really is a marvel of engineering. I love mechanical computers. Especially when you get into things like the ballistic computers on battleships, or the torpedo computers on older submarines. Both require incredibly complex equations, and as a result, the computers themslves are incredibly complex. Just beyond fascinating.
That is such an elegant piece of machinery. The thought that went into the design is amazing.
I remember reading about these for the first time in the William Gibson novel "Pattern Recognition". I thought they were just a fictional "MacGuffin" to drive part of the plot, before discovering the truth some time later. Fascinating machinery, thanks for the video.
Brazing is also used in refrigeration pipes to seal connections from leaking
It is a collectible in many ways, as antique, as a fine piece of machinery, gorgeous design ... nothing rare being Swiss Made.
Liechtenstein made.
What an ingenious device. Great for handling nice round numbers ;-)
I can't blame you for wanting to fix it, when I was younger and I had better pulse and eyesight I most certainly put everything in my collection into working order, but sometimes causing more harm than good, so I decided to stop trying to fix some of the stuff in my collections because I know someday they'll be in the hands of better experts than me and that's it.... I appreciate them for what they are and how they look, yes when I've some cash I always try to buy in working condition, but that's only occasionally...
Fascinating, it's the type of device that the "Time traveller" of H G Wells's "The Time Machine" would've used.
thank you, the curta has interested me for a long time, its a small wonder that you managed to find one at an reasonable price and had the pleasure of repairing it .
For details on the brazing material, please see the video info.
Never seen an electronics lab where a torch is needed =)
Now you saw one... 😎
Nice video. I have one with the same problem. A Type I.
There is a 3D interactive simulator on satadorus with the extension eu. It shows the working in great detail.
I just tried that simulator. Amazing! This is really done very well. Thank you for that tip.
@@PlaywithJunk Nice thank you
Did you find anything that needs fixing?
Any other suggestion?
Olaf
I just paid $200 US for a model I with the same problem. I got quoted $800 to replace the part.
Also, in the U.S. it's "set screw" or (less commonly) "grub screw".
Yeah, a complete disassembly would be necessary to replace the shaft. That's a lot of work and surely worth $800. But if it can be fixed with my method, that's cheaper.
Congratulations for your $200 purchase. I paid $800 in a broken state.
we tend to call them Grub screws.
That was the third name in my list…. :-)
You sound like Hans Gruber from Die Hard " Ladies and gentleman "
Never seen a blue brazing rod before. Would it be a Castolin Eutectic product?
It's from CFH and I chose the one with 670C melting point
Wow
I would love to whip one of these out at a party flick a few things look worried and say "I have to leave" urgently
Don't take it into an airplane... ;-)
Does the manual specify the MIPS number?
(maybe it better expressed in IPM...)
If the machine is in good condition, it may reach 3 APS. (additions per second)
I need one, some time ago a ser one in a local auction.
But unfortunately I lost the action time
Have you considered TIG welding?
I did but my welding skills are nut good enough. And there is a problem with grounding. If the welding current goes through bearings they may weld too.
This thing is expensive!
Does that qualify as 'junk'? Leave it to the Swiss to one up everyone on the slide rule.
Broken = junk, repaired = treasure 🙂
Actually it's Austrian. And manufactured in the Principality of Lichtenstein.
@@douro20 Ever looked at a map, genius?Trust me, Liechtenstein is swiss.
Just looked up the price on eBay.
😵💫😳😵💫😳!! $1500 minimum! Up to $10,000!
Well 10000 is a phantasy price. If you look at Ebay Classifieds (Kleinanzeigen) you can find them under 1000.
Keep watching the auctions. I jut got one for $810 - probably because the dummy selling it made the auction end at 2AM.
Have you ever seen how this machine is assembled? See here: ua-cam.com/video/AnTb26WHx2Q/v-deo.html (Unfortunately its all in German)
Yes I have seen that video. It looks so simple😊
First 🎉🎉😂😂