- 455 Martinson, Los Angeles
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A man must have a hobby….
This non-commercial website was a 60th birthday present from Ros. The name stems from another family member - our daughter Siân. As a teenager she often told her friends: “My Dad? Oh, he collects expensive sticks of wood!”
When the latest PC/tablet is out-of-date in 6 months it may come as a surprise that the Englishman in the image, the Rev. William Oughtred (1575-1660), invented a calculator around 1621 that would be in continual daily use for nigh on the next 400 years. My hobby is collecting and writing about this analogue calculating wonder - the SLIDE RULE.
This site is a virtual “display cabinet” for my collection (as it gets uploaded) of
slide rules and the odd mechanical calculating aid plus a “bookshelf” for my published articles - enjoy browsing.
The history - how it all began ....
To learn more about the history of this remarkable calculating wonder check out the “Slide Rule History” by the Oughtred Society or my 2-page summary (in Dutch!).
Anyone needing a “memory jogger” or is just intrigued how such analogue calculators of the past worked, the International Slide Rule Museum has a richly illustrated “How to use …” guide. Afterwards try doing a few trial calculations with Derek Ross’ online simulation of a Pickett N909-ES slide rule. Thinking of starting your own collection? Then the Oughtred Society’s Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Slide Rules is the place to start.
Educators looking for maths related inspiration & teaching aids/material need look no further than Nicola Marras’ website. But if just looking for reference books on slide rules try one of these: MyList 1 or MyList 2 .
Latest additions
Slide Rules
news - So far 760 rules are loaded from my collection
Amazing Digital Slide Rule
Ace Hoffman has developed an awesome simulation of a linear, round, concentric and drum slide rule. From the Homepage download a function-rich version for your phone, table or desktop.
We’ve MOVED!
Well the website has. Service from the old provider went downhill. So have now switched to a premium webhoster with extra security.
Please let me know if you spot anything not working.
LATEST ADDITIONS – AWF specialist SR’s
It is a mouthful but from 1930-1952 the German commission Ausschuss fuer Wirtschaftliche Fertigung produced an impressive series of specialist but practical slide rules.
New Long-Scale EBook
In memory of long-scale expert Ed Chamberlain (†18-10-2017) fellow collector Otto van Poelje has reissued his out of print private 2013 publication: “LONG-SCALE SLIDE RULES in LIFE-SIZE IMAGES”
NEW “FULL SCREEN” LOOK
Site remodelled & restyled to make it “technology neutral”. It should display optimally on any type of h/w device (incl. tablets & smartphones) or browser. Also the restyled search options work faster & more intuitive.
Please tell me what you think ....
CLASSIFIED !!
Lawrence made the only known slide rule conceived so vital to the WWII effort that the UK & US governments had it classified - based on research from MIT it calculated radar antenna beam patterns, beam width, gain, etc.
A New Year, new opportunities
Rod Lovett’s search engines are unmissable tools. Have you tried the two new options added late last year: (i) Long Scale Rules & (ii) Hyperbolic Archive ?
Have I Got News For You!
The UKSRC Slide Rule Gazette was the guest publication on British television’s highly acclaimed weekly satirical comical news quizz HIGNFY - see the You Tube clip.
My wish list
| Maker | Model(s) |
|---|---|
| A.W. Faber-Castell | 4/60, 4/92, 8/13, 8/14, 8/15 & 8/168 |
| Addiator GmbH | Octadat |
| Alro | Cobol Analyser, Ha Tex & Truck Tyres |
| Dargue Brothers Ltd / Simplon | Sub-Ivory models SR-1/3/4/6 + Honduras models SD10/WR-2A/W-5/W-7 |
| Engineering Instruments Inc. | Either circular “vinylite” model |
| Fearns Calculators | Barber Shop Harmony Calculator |
| Fowler | Nautical, Twelve-Ten, Kearns & Mackay |
| Graphoplex | 6245 & 6250 |
| Inglis | FLASH: Pricing, Photographic Exposure, Stock Exchange, Foreign Money, Paper Trades & Health Insurance |
| IWA | 15489 Harmonik |
| L&C Hardtmuth / Classic | 10" Series III |
| Lawrence Engineering Services | S-M (C.V. Ore) & Exposure (MIT) |
| Nestler | Cursor (runner) for 342 (50cm) & 24b (100cm) |
| Slide Rule & Scale Engineering Co. (S.E.&S.E.) | - any - |
| Unique | Norman, Perfectus, Dial, Pioneer Long Scale & Junior |
