Amazing Old Calculator (Curta) - Numberphile

TL;DR

The Curta, a mechanical pocket calculator, revolutionized math calculations before electronic calculators.

Transcript

ALEX BELLOS: This is the Curta, which is the only mechanical pocket digital calculator ever invented. It was invented by Curt Herzstark, who's an Austrian engineer who had the idea in the 1930s. Because for the previous 300 years, there'd been this desire for people to mechanize calculating, because calculating was quite effortful. It was quite dif... Read More

Key Insights

• 🦾 Curt Herzstark invented the Curta mechanical pocket calculator in the 1930s to mechanize complex calculations.
• 👻 WWII interrupted the development of the Curta, with Herzstark being allowed to continue perfecting his design in a concentration camp.
• 🐎 The Curta was primarily used by rally drivers in the 1960s for quick and accurate calculations during races.
• 🤬 The Curta was a collector's item and a symbol of the peak of mechanical calculator technology.
• 🥡 The Curta served as the last significant advancement in mechanisms for calculations before electronic calculators took over.
• 👻 The Curta's intricate design allowed for precise multiplication and calculations without the need for additional equipment.
• 🦾 Despite being a mechanical calculator, the Curta was hailed for its durability and robustness, still functioning well after decades.

Questions & Answers

Q: Who invented the Curta mechanical pocket calculator?

The Curta was invented by Curt Herzstark, an Austrian engineer, in the 1930s with the goal of mechanizing calculations.

Q: How did WWII impact the development of the Curta calculator?

WWII affected the Curta's development as Herzstark, who was half Jewish, was imprisoned during the war, but was allowed to continue working on his calculator by the Nazis.

Q: What was the significance of the Curta in the realm of calculators?

The Curta was considered the most perfect and beautiful mechanized calculator of its time and was a pinnacle of the dream to mechanize calculations before electronic calculators took over.

Q: How did rally drivers use the Curta mechanical pocket calculator?

Rally drivers and co-pilots used the Curta for precise calculations during races, as it was portable and ensured accurate math without the risk of slipping like traditional slide rules.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Curta, a mechanical pocket calculator, was invented by Curt Herzstark in the 1930s to mechanize difficult calculations.

• Herzstark faced challenges during development, including imprisonment during WWII, before finally creating the Curta in the 1960s.

• The Curta became a collector’s item and was popular among rally drivers for its precise calculations.