The Binary Curta
It is my believe that the Curta could have survived the digital age.
Using the standard parts with only minor modification a Binary Curta was well within reach.
This is how it could have looked...
Limitations of the Binary Curta
Accuracy
This model is base on the Type I Curta.
It inherits the number of (binary) digits:
item |
digits |
range (bin) |
range (decimal) |
remarks |
settings |
8 |
00000000 .. 11111111 |
0 .. 255 |
|
results |
11 |
00000000000 .. 11111111111 |
0 ... 2047 |
|
turns counter |
6 |
000000 .. 111111 |
0 .. 63 |
|
Some notes on the construction
The Setters and wheels
These parts are easy: just a shorter version of the decimal setters.
The wheels are only engraved with 0 and 1.
In fact any surplus wheels with 0 to 9 engraved could have been use too!
The Step Drum for the Adder
No need for many teeth here...
The Step Drum for the Turns Counter
No need for many teeth here...
The carry lever actuating pins on the back of the results wheels
To keep the design simple there are 5 carry lever actuating pins on the rear of the results wheels.
This way the result wheels can just keep rotating.
When clearing the wheel it is however forced in a fixed zero-position, and may well show a zero a few times.
Complicated? No because it uses the standard decimal wheels with only a few pins added and different engraving.