Antique Brunsviga D-13-R-2 Doppel Calculator. Germany, 1950s. With Chest

Brunsviga D-13-R-12 Doppel (Double) calculator made in Germany in the 1950s, with original storing chest and in good condition. The machine works fine and can be used to perform the four basic arithmetic operations. The calculators metal casing bears a fine hammered beige-painted finish with silvery-metal component parts and maroon Bakelite pointers and knobs. All the component parts and finishes remain in fine condition, making up a really attractive design with an undeniable old-time charm. At the left side of the calculator we can see a riveted silvery-metal triangular plate with the brand name BRUNSVIGA and the logo printed in black. At the back of the machine there is another plate with the brand name and an almost complete decal with information about the original distributor in Germany. The calculator stands on the original black-painted wooden base which connects the metal chest for its protection and transport. This antique Brunsviga D-13-R-12 Doppel with chest is a collectors piece, as beautiful as functional. Dimensions: Bottom Width: 18.5 in / 47 cm. Top Width: 12.8 in / 32.5 cm. Height: 6.5 in / 16.5 cm. Depth: 7.9 in / 20 cm.Brunsviga Calculators History The firm Grimme, Natalis & Co (GNC) was established in 1871 to build sewing machines and domestic appliances at Braunschweig, Germany. In 1892 engineer Franz Trinks was instrumental in securing the manufacturing rights to the Odhner calculator patents. The first machines were built according to W.T. Odhner's 1890 design and were distributed under the brand name "Brunsviga" (Latin for Braunschweig). Trinks continued to develop and refine the Brunsviga calculator over a period of almost 30 years. The "new Brunsviga" range appeared in 1925, and the "13-series" in 1927. Production resumed after the 1939-45 war with a new range of 13-series machines, a motorised version of the stepped-drum machine, and a range of small adding machines. Grimme, Natalis & Co was originally established as a "Commanditgesellschaft auf Aktien". On its fiftieth anniversary in 1921 it became Grimme, Natalis & Co AG. In 1927 the name was changed to "Brunsviga Maschinenwerke Grimme, Natalis & Co AG", and later to just "Brunsviga Maschinenwerke AG" In 1957 Brunsviga entered into an agreement with Olympia Werke AG, which led ultimately to the company being absorbed into Olympia in 1959. Production continued for a time as the Brunsviga Division of Olympia, before coming to an end in the late 1960s. About half a million Brunsviga machines were produced over a period of almost eighty years. The Trinks-Brunsviga calculators work with the pinwheel system developed by W.T. Odhner in the 1870s. It was inspired in turn by the arithmometer designed by Leibniz in the 16th century.