Kolekcja przyrządów liczących – dar Ireny i Waltera Szreków dla Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Collection of Calculating Devices – A Donation from Irena and Walter Szrek to the Jagiellonian University

Summary/Abstract: Walter Szrek donated a collection of over 600 historical aids and mechanical calculating devices to the Jagiellonian University. This donation, together with a focused archival set, significantly enhanced the University Museum’s collection of scientific instruments, which has been steadily expanding. The article aims to (1) highlight the most valuable pieces in the donated collection and (2) analyse Polish collections of historical calculating devices in comparison with the world’s leading collections. The donation is a classic collector’s set of high historical and museum value, comprising mainly mechanical calculating devices from the second half of the 19th c. These machines reflect typical designs of their era and include models from all major manufacturers. Most private collections of such devices date from the 19th and 20th centuries. Early objects from the 17th c. are rare and are held by a few science and technology museums, as noted in the article for comparison.

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