tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post6087620987463114648..comments2023-11-10T04:17:00.492-05:00Comments on View From The Porch: Gadgetry.Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-71394228905215877502010-04-27T16:18:55.672-04:002010-04-27T16:18:55.672-04:00enjoy some nice views to the curta from my web sit...enjoy some nice views to the curta from my web site...<br /><br />redredhttp://curta.li/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-85458318205376774292010-04-16T08:45:16.529-04:002010-04-16T08:45:16.529-04:00I share the "I want one!" sentiment.
Wh...I share the "I want one!" sentiment.<br /><br />What is it with old technology??? Is it nostalgia? Some form of "the green was greener"? Curiosity?<br /><br />In a similar vein, I had some urge to get a sextant and copy of Bowditch after reading some Aubrey / Maturin novels. Why? If I want to know where I am, GPS is much faster and accurate. Yet, I have a hankering to learn to do it "the old fashioned way".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-19990216056725059962010-04-15T03:04:26.022-04:002010-04-15T03:04:26.022-04:00Arrrrg!Another gadget for the "when I win the...Arrrrg!Another gadget for the "when I win the lottery" list. To make matters worse, I hopped on eBay to see what they cost, then decided to check out what they had in the way of sliderules. Ended up re-opening an account with them to bid on a few. It's like dangling a bag of Ketamine & MDMA in front of a raver, I tell you!Cybrluditehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02222195374935367060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-57345314102880058292010-04-14T22:18:51.158-04:002010-04-14T22:18:51.158-04:00On a production scale MIM would probably do alrigh...On a production scale MIM would probably do alright - the question is, does anyone have the drawings around, and second what would dies et al cost for these parts?<br /><br />JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-87095224629666034392010-04-14T17:49:12.427-04:002010-04-14T17:49:12.427-04:00There really is a wonderful elegance to those mach...There really is a wonderful elegance to those machines.<br /><br />It really shows how all math is just addition and subtraction.<br /><br />That and it goes clickety-clack!The Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15173903164209256926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-2628292326833428362010-04-14T17:10:06.217-04:002010-04-14T17:10:06.217-04:00I dunno, it seems like something whose manufacturi...I dunno, it seems like something whose manufacturing costs could be cut massively using modern materials and CNC manufacturing.<br /><br />Unlike, say, the internals of a 1911, I don't see that MIM would be inappropriate for replica Curta guts...Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-56770492455964296632010-04-14T16:27:36.823-04:002010-04-14T16:27:36.823-04:00They ebay for a thousand or so. I can't imagin...They ebay for a thousand or so. I can't imagine that it would pay to make and distribute them for a competitive price.staghoundshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976667812875074135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-47093314122782614532010-04-14T15:28:29.142-04:002010-04-14T15:28:29.142-04:00Kinda surprises me that nobody's making copies...Kinda surprises me that nobody's making copies. Say, in Russia.Sigivaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152366541957466049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-15495698586831638972010-04-14T14:28:52.628-04:002010-04-14T14:28:52.628-04:00Had to wiki the Curta, loved this quote:
One chag...Had to wiki the Curta, loved this quote:<br /><br /><i>One chagrined owner, on showing up to the dealer to retrieve his $600 Curta, now reassembled for an additional $300, was told, "don't feel bad. Curtas really cost $900. Everyone takes them apart."</i>GuardDuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08622236339096746029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-2403368239295529392010-04-14T14:26:14.647-04:002010-04-14T14:26:14.647-04:00Staghounds got what came to mind first, but my sec...Staghounds got what came to mind first, but my second thought was that one of those is a pretty good excuse to stand up that machine shop I've been considering.<br /><br />JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-46645972032042587472010-04-14T12:17:50.952-04:002010-04-14T12:17:50.952-04:00Thanks a ton, now I want one. I'm thinking ab...Thanks a ton, now I want one. I'm thinking about framing that poster in my house somewhere.zeeke42https://www.blogger.com/profile/13782810414231954138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-18913967813180337212010-04-14T11:29:36.213-04:002010-04-14T11:29:36.213-04:00Very elegant design! I like!Very elegant design! I like!Keadshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09982258812373127063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-36593023832035069952010-04-14T10:43:57.547-04:002010-04-14T10:43:57.547-04:00The "math grenade"!The "math grenade"!staghoundshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976667812875074135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-4879856901378362742010-04-14T10:40:28.968-04:002010-04-14T10:40:28.968-04:00When I was growing up we had some variation of the...When I was growing up we had some variation of the <a href="http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/addiator.html" rel="nofollow">Addiator</a>...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/mechanical_calculators.html" rel="nofollow">Mechanical Calculators</a> at the <a href="http://www.vintagecalculators.com/index.html" rel="nofollow">Vintage Calculators Web Museum.</a>Dranghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08082177597135236652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-57831675188611144122010-04-14T10:22:06.168-04:002010-04-14T10:22:06.168-04:00I've been looking for a curta for a few years ...I've been looking for a curta for a few years now. My excuse was it would circumvent "no electronic devices during tests" rules, and my slide rule sheath was cumbersome in the desk/chair (not to mention looked strange in the 21st century). Really, though, I just have a fascination for mechanical computers.<br /><br />The going price for a curta is devastating to my wallet and heart. I've never been able to find a replica even though I've been told they exist.<br /><br />Thanks for reminding me of everything I never had. I will be fantasizing about a curta for a week now and be insufferable at the dinner table.Nick Pacifichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03743152219231131331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-3574908247917966572010-04-14T09:22:17.244-04:002010-04-14T09:22:17.244-04:00Wow.. the odd thing to think on is that it's n...Wow.. the odd thing to think on is that it's <i>newer</i> than your 1911 or Smith...Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682072668997410668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-7356177195892221272010-04-14T09:18:03.944-04:002010-04-14T09:18:03.944-04:00Mmmmm...the M3 is the single most sublime image ma...Mmmmm...the M3 is the single most sublime image making device (both aesthetically and operationally) ever created.<br /><br />http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/leica/m/mpix/m3.jpg<br /><br />The quality with which they were designed and made has been a thing of wonder and an object of lust for almost 60 years now. As Ferris Maximus decreed, if you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.2yellowdogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00187439022081364173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-25760074445195534392010-04-14T09:07:12.879-04:002010-04-14T09:07:12.879-04:00If you didn't have a Curta, way back in the Da...If you didn't have a Curta, way back in the Dark Ages before electronic computers, you just weren't a serious sporty car rallyist.<br /><br />They were a necessity for one's MG-TD, along with the gloves, the cap and the nitrogen-filled tyres.<br /><br />I did okay with my K&E Log Log Duplex Decitrig slide rule, though. Lay the windshield down on my 1956 Austin-Healey LeMans, don the goggles, and Be Cool. :-)<br /><br />ArtDesertrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09860257698839313423noreply@blogger.com