c1-13_2 Clodoveu Davis

Mechanical calculators: FACIT C1-13 (second machine)

I purchased this machine at an online auction site in February 2011. It was in relatively bad condition, with rubber fixtures deteriorated, damaged painting, and corrosion on the bottom and front (behind the keyboard) plates. The main crank handle was firmly stuck, possibly due to some chemical used by the previous owner in an attempt to unlock it. I had to perform some “surgery” to get the handle free again.

I had the external levers re-chromed, and found a small firm that agreed to give its cover a new coat of electrostatic paint, which looks able to withstand at least another 100 years (the firm paints cases for public telephones). The acrylic display covers were also damaged, and I attempted some restoration in one of them, to be improved on later. I cleaned the mechanism and lubricated it, without fully disassembling the machine – however, a full revision is due soon.

This machine was manufactured in c1966 (ref), at FACIT's unit in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Later machines had a plastic cover, but this one is in metal. It is not identical to my other C1-13, though: arrow keys are a different color, and the logo in the back is in a single plastic strip, whereas the previous one has each letter attached individually to the back. The serial number indicates that this one was manufactured more recently.

Have a mechanical calculator stored somewhere, and want to get rid of it? Send it to me!

1966 FACIT C1-13 s/n B-94259

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