About of SLIDE RULE
Eric's Slide Rule Site
A personal compilation of information on slide rules with much information on
his own collection.
Welcome to Eric's Slide Rule Site Greetings! This site contains scans and descriptions of my growing collection of slide rules, along with several pages of (hopefully) useful background information
Regular visitors to the site know that I've been behind in updating it lately, but I can assure you that I have quite the backlog of new rules to add
Hopefully, they will be coming soon! All the high resolution scans have been reduced to 75 dpi, so what you see on the screen should be roughly the actual size of the rule
Please don't use them anywhere else without letting me know first - thanks! Slide Rule Resource Centre Background on logarithms, history of the slide rule, and how it all works
( Updated November 3, 2001 ) Overview of the major categories of slide rules, and descriptions of common scale labels and meanings
( Updated September 12, 2002 ) Some downloadable slide rule manuals from different manufacturers available on my site
( Updated May 25, 2002 ) Some suggestions to help get you started in finding a rule of your own
( Updated December 1, 2002 ) Greatly expanded, features a new set of pages contains tips for restoring your slide rule to its former glory! ( Revised November 27, 2002 ) Reviews of modern books for collectors, as well as some old slide rule instruction books
Eric's Introduction to the Slide Rule page
Slide rule resources and links.
Introduction to the Slide Rule The words 'slide rule' may conjure up images of overwhelming complexity and technical detail for you, but the underlying concept is actually quite straightforward
At its heart, the slide rule is nothing more than a simple and elegant solution for solving basic mathematical calculations
What I'll attempt to do on this page is to explain where the slide rule came from, and how it works
Don't worry about all that intimidating detail you see on the face of a slide rule ..
Although the slide rule goes by many names (sliderule, slide ruler, slipstick, etc.) and comes in many forms (linear, circular, cylindrical, etc.), the background presented below applies equally well to all makes and models
If you want to skip the theory, and proceed directly to how to use a slide rule, see my page for some downloadable manuals
You might also want to check out the various types of rules and the meanings of common scales listed on my page
Probably the best way to illustrate what a slide rule can do is to start by what it typically won't do; namely, addition or subtraction
Like slide rules? Welcome to Sphere Research's Slide Rule Universe ...
Extensive on line archive of slide rule information, plus a catalog of available rules.
Original Artwork by:, The Slide Rule Universe is a trademark of Sphere Research Corporation 3394 Sunnyside Rd
Kelowna, BC, Canada V1Z 2V4 Phone: +1 (250) 769-1834 FAX: +1 (250) 769-4106 A great source for test equipment, repairs, calibrations, useful metrology information, and of course, SLIDE RULES! Updated July 28, 2006 Click REFRESH on your browser if pages seem unchanged At the Slide Rule Universe you can CLICK ON THE PICS BELOW to see the Main Categories: + Plus , you can do all of these things: NOW CLOSED We finally found some workable substitutes for you! Search Our Pages! Need to find something about slide rules on our site? Can't remember where it is? Try this Google Site Search! CAUTION: Only as accurate as the last Google Spiderbot visit
We also have odd corporate interests, like restoring test equipment, and of all things, investigating slide rules , the most fascinating of all engineering marvels..
At this site, you can get detailed information and buy rules from manufacturers all over the world, including K+E (Keuffel + Esser), Pickett, POST, Hemmi, Sama and Etani, Gilson, Graphoplex, Dietzgen, Concise, Aristo, Shanghai/Flying Fish, Otis King, Sterling, Acu-Math, Diwa, Blundell, Faber-Castell, Nestler, Staedtler-Mars and more
Sphere Research's Slide Rule Scales Page
Describes the types of scales found on most slide rules.
Welcome To Sphere Research's Slide Rule Universe ! Important ! New Address! Sphere Research Corporation 3394 Sunnyside Rd
Kelowna, BC, Canada V1Z 2V4 Phone: +1 (250) 769-1834 FAX: +1 (250) 769-4106 A great source for test equipment, repairs, calibrations, slide rules, and useful metrology information ! Updated January 9, 2004 Slide Rule Scales To get the best use out of a slide rule, you need to understand what the individual scales can do
Slide rules started out life with simple scales for multiplication and division, added squares and square roots, cubes and cube roots, then expanded into exotic log scales, trig functions, special purpose computations and different log bases
Some Common Slide Rule Scale Variations: Mannheim (or Simplex) Slide Rules Original Mannheim rules had only A, B, C & D scales, but many later models added a reciprocal scale (CI) , a cube scale (K) , and on the slide reverse, T, L & S scales
This sample is a K&E 4053-3 Mannheim rule
Duplex Slide Rules , which have a double-sided cursor and operate on both surfaces, with sliding and stationary scales
This style rule usually has reciprocal scales ( CI & DI ), as well as folded scales CF & DF , generally at 'pi'
info: SLIDE RULE
Photo by www.eagleray.gr
Basic Slide Rule Instructions
Explains how to multiply, find cube and square roots and other operations.
Includes illustrations.
The Museum of HP Calculators To multiply two numbers on a typical slide rule, the user set the left index (start of the scale) on the C scale to line up with one factor on the D scale
The precision available to the user was directly proportional to the size of the device (or the smallest lines the user could resolve.) The slide rule did not indicate the decimal point
Then the user used the right side (and again used one half the exponent of ten for the resulting exponent.) R1 and R2: Square/Square Root Whereas A and B were the squares of C and D, some rules also added R1 and R2 which were the square root of D
In fact the L scale was the only non-logarithmic scale that was commonly found on slide rules
Log-log Slide Rules Log-log rules were invented in 1815 and had scales proportional to the log of the log of the number
(See above.) Log-log rules can be recognized by the many scales starting with 'LL'
(All of these results were read on a 10' rule.) To raise a number less than .999 to a power, the LL/0 - LL/3 scales were used
If none of the above rules have enough scales to suit you, try the Pickett N3-ES Powerlog Exponential rule shown below
Slide Rules
Instructions on use of slide rules, and a guide to the price of slide rules.
Instructions in slide rule use
Basic information and a number of manuals in pdf format.
Slide rules page < > Instructions in Slide Rule Use This section tells you how to use a slide rule
It includes a guide to the most common uses of a rule and instructions for some non-standard rules
A basic guide to using slide rules An almost complete book on slide rule use (© Hodder and Stoughton) Instructions for some common and not-so-common rules in English, French, German and Spanish
Dave's Slide Rules
Dedicated to one man's collection of slide rules (and includes a photo gallery),
plus a few links for those who want to find out more about them or where to buy ...
Dave's Slide Rules Slide Rules! Last Updated: 8/27/06 Disclaimer added, links updated
DISCLAIMER: I do not sell slide rules or slide rule parts
This page is dedicated to my small (but growing) collection of slide rules, plus a few helpful links for those who want to find out more about the playful little things, or where to buy one
The picture to the right is me with some of my slide rules, as taken by Columbus Dispatch photographer Neal C
The Dispatch did a piece on 'Dinosaur Technology' in the business section on July 5, 1999, and I was interviewed as a local source on slide rules
Few things in history have become so completely and quickly obsolete as the slide rule, replaced by the electronic calculator and portable computer
Even abacuses are still used in some circles, but everyone who would have used a slide rule now uses an electronic calculator instead
:) Thing is, slide rules aren't inferior to electronic calculators in all respects, and there's certain things a slide rule might even help students with, such as estimation and order of magnitude
Unfortunately, because the demise of the slide rule was so rapid (less than ten years, really), and because no one thought to do comparative research at the time (not that I've been able to find), it's impossible to really say if slipsticks are better at helping knowledge stick
Benefits
Photo by www.dentaku-museum.com
How a slide rule works Short lesson.
Slide rule A simple explanation of a clever calculator Dear reader, The other day I was talking to a lady who had many mathematical qualifications but had never seen a slide rule
Then you can make your own slide rule in two minutes
The slide rule Now you know how logarithms work you may be wondering if you can have a go
(You can find out about division and fractions later.) But now let us look at the very clever pocket calculator called the slide rule
Run off the end of the top scale! Luckily we can use the same trick we used to save printing an enormous book of log tables to save having to make a very long slide rule
And that is how a slide rule works
Tricks from the slide rule era..
Java Slide Rule
Interactive slide rule.
JavaSlide the WWW's very first Java Slide Rule This Java applet implements a fully functional slide rule on your computer screen
Of course, with a real slide rule you must estimate these values by reading the scales! The scales here are accurately portrayed, so you can trust the readings
Note that slide rules do not maintain decimal positioning - you have to do that, too! The S&T scale is slightly off due to the different ways that I, and the original manufacturer of this rule, have calculated the values
©1996-1999 Andrew Davie For a comprehensive archive of slide rule material, and a very active discussion forum about these interesting tools, please visit the Apple Macintosh fans (and others!) might be interested at Jef Raskin's view of sliderules..
Dave's House of Slide Rules
Large categorised collection with photos and notes.
The nerdiest hobby going So i finally decided to scan my slide rules
also, note that while everything's scanned at 300dpi, large (10'/12') rules i scaled down 75%, while the pocket rules i only scaled down 50%, so the pocket rules tend to look a lot bigger than they should
If there's no link associated with a rule, that probably just means i haven't gotten round to scanning it in yet (in the case of the two 20' K&E rules, they were just too darn big to fit on the scanner, so i didn't even bother saying anything about them
Anyway: Most of the pictures show the front and back of the rule, except where the back of the rule wasn't worth seeing or i was too lazy to scan both sides of the rule
I get new slide rules about once a week
our scanner's finally fixed, and i've got a ton of new rules to add, and a bunch of information from kind folks who've sent me mail
Manufacturers Some random rules Stuff I Want I've actually been buying stuff at lately; maybe it's just me, maybe i've gotten to be less of a cheapskate, but it seems prices there have gotten more reasonable
Slide Rules in my collection, and some for sale
Site for Jay Francis, a collector of slide rules and antique mechanical calculators.
Items for sale or trade, and many related links.
SLIDE RULE ?
Circular Slide Rule
Templates, directions, and some links to other slide rule sites.
Make your own circular slide rule The slide rule is a simple but elegant mechanical calculator
A practiced user with a good quality slide rule can multiply, divide, exponentiate, take logarithms and perform trigonometric operations to three significant figures more quickly than with an electronic calculator
Below you will find a PostScript template and instructions for building your own pocket-sized circular slide rule, like the one pictured at left
Template part 1 Template part 2 - print to transparency (from The Museum of HP Calculators ) This circular slide rule has the most essential functions of a scientific calculator
What next? If you enjoy using my simple circular slide rule, you will probably find even greater enjoyment using a professional quality instrument
Or perhaps you can find a slide rule in an attic or at a garage sale
Good slide rules like the K+E operate very smoothly, are quick to use, and typically last for many years
Sophisticated models have more scales than my simple circular slide rule, making for greater flexibility
Here are some favorite slide rule websites: An to slide rules (from The Museum of HP Calculators ) A short essay on The first (and perhaps best) , an excellent source of information and a marketplace for new (yes, new) & used slide rules _ Last modified: October 26, 1998
Slide Rule Collection
Todd Tolhurst describes his collection, some with pictures.
I collect slide rules
For those of you who don't remember a time before inexpensive electronic calculators, slide rules are simple but devilishly clever calculating devices
Capable of performing many types of computations, including multiplication, division, logs, antilogs, powers, roots and trigonometric functions, slide rules were once the constant companion of working engineers and scientists
Around 1973, Hewlett-Packard introduced a revolutionary product, the HP-35 electronic slide rule calculator
For the first time, a small electronic device was capable of doing all of the computations done by slide rules, and then some
Although the HP-35 was rather expensive (around $400, which might be a week's pay for a young engineer), it was only a matter of time before the price of calculators dropped to the point that slide rules were no longer competitive
My Collection Here is a list of the slide rules currently in my collection
Concise (Sama & Etani) Sama & Etani seem to have specialized in circular slide rules, usually sold under the Concise brand
Many of these rules were made for companies who used them as promotional giveaways, and so they were often imprinted with company names, logos and slogans
Oughtred Society Slide Rule Home Page.
Membership group dedicated to the history and collection of slide rules.
[password access] Welcome to the Oughtred Society The Oughtred Society was founded in 1991 by a group of slide rule collectors and is dedicated to the preservation and history of slide rules and other calculating instruments
… New Items We've added two new sections: (1) an Information Available section, listing major resources for finding slide rule information; and (2) a Questions & Answers section, consisting of questions we've received and our answers to those questions
Announcing The Sixteenth Annual Oughtred Society Slide Rule Collectors' Meeting, June 24, 2006, in Mountain View, California
[PDF] Announcements for the International Slide Rule Meetings (IM) in 2006 and 2007
[PDF] Featured articles plus more () from the pages of the Journal of the Oughtred Society Activities Order a copy of The Oughtred Society Slide Rule Reference Manual with your new membership or renewal and receive free shipping
The Oughtred Society Award honors outstanding contributions to the world community involved with slide rules and historical calculating instruments
Our new publication, The Oughtred Society Slide Rule Reference Manual , is now available
Chris Gillings' Web Site: Slide Rules and Calculators
Images grouped by type.
Slide Rules and Calculators Please note that these are my personal collections
I've a number of slide rules, abacuses and calculators of varying ages and condition
I am beginning to concentrate my efforts on Special-Purpose slide rules: the more obscure the better
Slide Rules Aristo Concise Faber-Castell Fuller Griffin Halden Sun-Hemmi Hope Keuffel & Esser Otis King's Pocket/Patent Calculators PIC Pickett Relay Ricoh ROOS Unique White & Gillespie Flight Computers Specialist Slide Rules Sliding Tables Not Slide Rules at all
Chris Osburn's Slide Rule Collection
Explanation of slide rule scales, FAQ about buying and selling rules, and a
description of his collection.
Slide Rule as a Teaching Tool
Examples of how the slide rule is a useful tool for teaching the mathematical
concept of transformations. Examples and illustrations.
About Slide Rules
Explains how to use the different scales to multiply and divide.
+ + About Slide Rules No more than thirty years ago, slide rules were everywhere
It seems that few people today know how to use a slide rule; most of my contemporaries who learned at school have forgotten
I had my first rule when I was about eleven, bought for me by my father to stop me fiddling with his, and had while at school and university
Like everyone else, I bought an electronic calculator when they became affordable around the early 1970s, and used it and its many successors for real work, but I still retain my fascination for the simple old method, and I still carry a slide rule and use it occasionally
Put a slide rule on the table next to a modern scientific calculator
Amazing what technology can do, but also slide rules were always far more expensive than they ought to have been
Though, of course, you can make yourself a slide rule in a few minutes (see ); try that with a calculator! When slide rules were a reasonable means of performing calculations quickly and cheaply, most science students were taught to use one at school
Mostly, though, students seem to have been taught just the basic methods for using the slide rule, and not the more efficient advanced methods, nor much about how it all works, and therefore how to develop technique
Moonstick Information Site - slide rule moon phase calendar
Describes a slide rule Moon phase calendar accurate over 8000 years into the past
or future, and provides other methods of computing astronomical information.
About the Moonstick A moonstick is a slide rule moon phase calendar
(For technical details, please see the specs in the .) moonstick -- $30.00 (shipping included) wraparound view of the moonstick (to compute sunset times for any date anywhere) (a smaller flat circular version of the moonstick) (perpetual calendar) What's New · ( ) · () · ( ) What's in the Works · a new slide-rule scientific calculator More About the Moonstick The moonstick consists of six specially designed rulers (with triangular profiles)
Unlike a conventional slide rule, its rulers are bundled together in a hexagonal profile and held together by two rigid hexagonal straps (permanently fixed to a particular ruler)
Five of the rulers slide freely
Through an intuitive system of color matching, the rulers are oriented and aligned to calculate moon phases
As you may notice, each ruler is uniquely numbered at its bottom
(Ruler 0 is shown at both sides of the diagram for clarity.) First, rulers 1 through 4 are used to select the year; then ruler 5 is used to select the month
The moon phase for each day of the month is then shown along the junction of rulers 5 and 0
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