The Curta.org Bulletin Board

[RoMan]

hallo to everyone,
my first question is related to the earlier curta type I manufactured before 1951-52:
why did they write on the bottom "TYPE I" ??
in those years only type I was manufactured !
in 1949-50 how could Curt Herzstark already know that in 1954 he would manufacture type II ?!?
bye, romano

[Pete]

Errrr...I don't think it's unknown for a company to name its first product "Mark 1" or "Type 1" etc etc...

And you might, if you have a look around the internets, find reference (even a picture or two!) to the prototype models Herr Herzstark had in mind for the future. Pity those didn't work out, but I can't blame the guy for wanting out of the business after what the Liechtensteiners did to him.
_________________
Cheers, Pete

[RoMan]

Ok Pete,
what you say is perfectly logical.
yet, when Curt H. finally started making type II, why didn't he write Type II on the bottom??
As far as I know most black body Type II are like this.
Do you know of black body curtas marked Type II?
bye

[Pete]

Hmmm. Just took a look at the bottom of my black type II and you're right, no "Type II".

One thing I notice is that the baseplates on all my Curtas have differences - on 40579 the "Type I" is engraved like the SN (and ABOVE the other printing), but on three earlier ones the "Type I" looks to be printed like the rest of the baseplate lettering, and placed at the bottom.

My 511869 has "Type II" engraved like the SN, and as with 40579, this is above the other printing on the baseplate.

What was I thinking when I said "I want a full Curta set"....with all these little variations it might be impossible. Oh well, the ones I have cover MOST of the bases!
_________________
Cheers, Pete

[Jack]

[Pete]