Soviet Calculators Collection

One of the most widely used inventions over the past 50 years has been the hand held calculator. Say what you want about it, this little gizmo has made our life so much easier. If you think I'm wrong, try taking a math class with a slide rule (remember those?). Many of the big names in electronics were involved in the evolution of these devices, HP, Texas Instruments. I even have an Atari one sitting on my desk. But they were not strictly an American innovation. Today's Warped site goes behind the former Iron Curtain to a place one would not associate with them.

The name of the site is the Soviet Calculators Collection. It is a site that has pictures and details about Soviet devices that were pretty unique. There are mechanical, electro-mechanical and electronic ones that are featured. It is quite interesting to see them and to realize just how many there were. Some of them may seem funny by today's comparisons, but they were functional, not vaporware. There are 145 models shown, along with some other interesting devices, such as watches, clocks, a chess computer, and even some Russian slide rules.

It may seem strange to think of such a country as the Soviet Union to have had the ability to design and build such complex electronics. But remember that the scientific programs that were developed achieved many scientific firsts, such as the first man made satellite, and other space technology feats. Without the space race, it is doubtful if we would have ever reached the moon, at least as fast as we did. The Warped rating on this site is a 7.5.

http://rk86.com/frolov/calcolle.htm