Curta calculator - broken shaft fixed - (PWJ203)

[@gvii]

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.

[@madbstard1]

That is such an elegant piece of machinery. The thought that went into the design is amazing.

[@amp888]

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.

[@38911bytefree]

It is a collectible in many ways, as antique, as a fine piece of machinery, gorgeous design ... nothing rare being Swiss Made.

[@danielheckel2755]

Liechtenstein made.

[@johnsenchak1428]

Brazing is also used in refrigeration pipes to seal connections from leaking

[@BenjaminMaggi-c4e]

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...

[@matthewfish6113]

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 .

[@beamer.electronics]

Fascinating, it's the type of device that the "Time traveller" of H G Wells's "The Time Machine" would've used.

[@friiq0]

I love that the clock rang 3 right when you cranked it 3 times in the hundreds place at 20:48. 😄 Edit: I originally asked you to show the open Curta from the side while you cranked it in a future video, but now that I’ve watched more of the video, I see that you already did it 😅 Thank you for showing that. It’s really fascinating to see it work on the inside.

[@PlaywithJunk]

There are many other videos about the Curta that show the mechanism working. Thanks for watching my video first... :-)

[@PlaywithJunk]

For details on the brazing material, please see the video info.

[@graemedavidson499]

What an ingenious device. Great for handling nice round numbers ;-)

[@robwilkes3351]

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".

[@PlaywithJunk]

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.

[@olafzijnbuis]

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.

[@PlaywithJunk]

I just tried that simulator. Amazing! This is really done very well. Thank you for that tip.

[@olafzijnbuis]

​@@PlaywithJunk Nice thank you Did you find anything that needs fixing? Any other suggestion? Olaf

[@38911bytefree]

Never seen an electronics lab where a torch is needed =)

[@PlaywithJunk]

Now you saw one... 😎

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

we tend to call them Grub screws.

[@PlaywithJunk]

That was the third name in my list…. :-)

[@douro20]

Never seen a blue brazing rod before. Would it be a Castolin Eutectic product?

[@PlaywithJunk]

It's from CFH and I chose the one with 670C melting point

[@johnsenchak1428]

You sound like Hans Gruber from Die Hard " Ladies and gentleman "

[@ludditetechnologies]

Wow

[@Rob2]

Does the manual specify the MIPS number? (maybe it better expressed in IPM...)

[@PlaywithJunk]

If the machine is in good condition, it may reach 3 APS. (additions per second)

[@haralamc]

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

[@PlaywithJunk]

Don't take it into an airplane... ;-)

[@pasikavecpruhovany7777]

Have you considered TIG welding?

[@PlaywithJunk]

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.

[@ebekman]

I need one, some time ago a ser one in a local auction. But unfortunately I lost the action time

[@ChengduLittleA]

This thing is expensive!

[@f.k.b.16]

Just looked up the price on eBay. 😵‍💫😳😵‍💫😳!! $1500 minimum! Up to $10,000!

[@PlaywithJunk]

Well 10000 is a phantasy price. If you look at Ebay Classifieds (Kleinanzeigen) you can find them under 1000.

[@dfmayes]

Keep watching the auctions. I jut got one for $810 - probably because the dummy selling it made the auction end at 2AM.

[@ThomasJakober]

Have you ever seen how this machine is assembled? See here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5-3k2VsjK2raLM (Unfortunately its all in German)

[@PlaywithJunk]

Yes I have seen that video. It looks so simple😊

[@AmitChaudhry27]

First 🎉🎉😂😂

[@Sven_Dongle]

Does that qualify as 'junk'? Leave it to the Swiss to one up everyone on the slide rule.

[@PlaywithJunk]

Broken = junk, repaired = treasure 🙂

[@douro20]

Actually it's Austrian. And manufactured in the Principality of Lichtenstein.

[@Sven_Dongle]

@@douro20 Ever looked at a map, genius?Trust me, Liechtenstein is swiss.