Stewart Russell1d ago

Since everyone seems to be all about space programs, here's a very silly joke device from 50 years back: The Zlotnian Calculator, "Official Digital Calculator of the Zlotnian Space Program"

While it was a joke, it was made by a very serious surveying instrument company, the Slope Indicator Company of Seattle, WA.

more info: https://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/SpecialSubjects/Zlotnian_Calculator/zlotnian.htm

re-created: https://www.printables.com/model/1672286-the-zlotnian-calculator-reproduction

Show threadDavid Cohen1d ago
@scruss @Nickiquote The instructions show an epic commitment to the bit
Show threadStewart Russell1d ago
@davidbcohen @Nickiquote yup, they didn't hold back
Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK

@scruss @davidbcohen @Nickiquote

Allowing for political changes over the years, the current location of Zlotnia is Uzhhorod in Ukraine (where there is a big gas pipe supplying much of Europe).

I wonder if someone from Slope Indicator was originally from there?

Apr 4 at 11:23pmWeb
Show threadStewart Russell1d ago
@vfrmedia @davidbcohen @Nickiquote according to Nicola Marras in the Proceedings of the 22th International Meeting for Collectors of Historical Calculating Instruments, it was designed by Audris Skuja, originally from Latvia.
(p.89)
https://www.nicolamarras.it/calcolatoria/im16/IM16-ProceedingsWeb.pdf
Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UK1d ago

@scruss @davidbcohen @Nickiquote

that makes sense - whoever did it had the geography of Eastern Europe in the map spot on, but it would have also made sense to pick an area many km from where your family still lived, in case the Soviet authorities lacked a sense of humour..