- 455 Martinson, Los Angeles
- 8 (043) 567 - 89 - 30
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A man must have a hobby….
This non-commercial website was an amazing 60th birthday present from my soulmate Ros. But the website name is thanks to another family member - our daughter Siân. When asked as a teenager what I did, she often told her friends: “My Dad? Oh, he collects expensive sticks of wood!”
When the latest PC/tablet is out-of-date inside 6 months, it may come as a surprise that the Rev. William Oughtred (1575-1660) invented his Circles of Proportion calculator around 1621. This analogue principle was in continual use for nigh on the next 400 years. My hobby is collecting and writing about this analogue calculating wonder - the SLIDE RULE. Over the years the concept was successfully adopted and adapted by many trades and professions. Remarkably being able to use such an elegant analogue instrument from a bygone age is still a licensing condition for all private and commercial pilots.
This website is a virtual “display cabinet” for my collection (as I uploaded it) of slide rules, slide charts and mechanical calculating aids plus a virtual “bookshelf” for my published articles - enjoy browsing.
My wish list
| Maker | Model(s) |
|---|---|
| A.W. Faber-Castell | 8/13, 8/14, 8/15 & 51/88 |
| Addiator GmbH | Octadat |
| AHREND (Wed. J. Ahrend & Zoon) | 642T, 649, 651, 690, 696, 698, 699 & 701 |
| ALRO (All-Round) | 101, 10 RL, Beton, Cycloop, GoA, Ha.C/P/Q/V, Ha TEX, Piret, Philips Calendar, Nomographie, Van Leer, Vonderlingenplaat & WeR4 |
| AWF (Ausschuss fuer Wirtschaftliche Fertigung) | SR703, SR705-709, & SR754 |
| Controller Calculator | 200 R |
| DARGUE Bros. Ltd. / Simplon | Sub-Ivory SR-1 & SR-4 + Honduras SD10, WR-2A, WR-5 & WR-7 |
| Fearns Calculators | Barber Shop Harmony Calculator |
| Fowler | Nautical, Artillery, Kearns & Mackay |
| Inglis | any FLASH RECKONER |
| ITAB (Internationaler Tabellenverlag) | Multicalor Flachheizkorper & Styropor-Vollwarmeschutz |
| IWA – F. Riehle GmbH & Co KG | 15489 Harmonik |
| Johann Faber | 180/080, 180/082, 9203, 9204 & 9204 |
| Keuffel & Esser (K&E) | 4081-3 Braille version |
| KOSMOS | Book: "De Rekenliniaal" - 11th & 12th Editions |
| L&C Hardtmuth / Classic | 10" Series III |
| Lawrence Engineering Services | S-M (C.V. Ore) & Exposure (MIT) |
| LOGA Calculator A.G. | TF, T150, T300, O2 Calculator, 30 TxC & 75 Terminator |
| LOGAREX | 27705 |
| Logomat Rechengeräte | 1300/1303 |
| Nestler | RP 75, Kreisrechner & Disc-O-Lator |
| S.R.&S.E. (Slide Rule & Scale Eng. Co.) | - any - |
| Systeem Matthijssen | - any - |
| Unique | Junior, Study 500/700/900 & J180/181/182 |
The history of the slide rule - how it all began ....
To learn more about the history of this calculating wonder check out the “Slide Rule History” by the Oughtred Society (OS) or my 2-page summary (in Dutch).
Those needing a “memory jogger” or is intrigued how such bygone analogue calculators worked, the International Slide Rule Museum (ISRM) offers an illustrated teach yourself course: “How To Use The Slide Rule”. Alternatively download the self-running 35mm “slide show” Training Programme with synchronised audio commentary I digitalised. Afterwards try out some test calculations using Robert Wolf's online simulation of the classic Nestler 23R wooden slide rule. If this gets you thinking about starting your own collection, then the UKSRC/OS “Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Slide Rules” is a must read.
For educators looking for maths related inspiration and teaching aids/material then you need to look no further than Nicola Marras’ slide rule inspired website. But if you are just looking for reference works/published books on slide rules try one of these inventories: List 1 or List 2.
news - So far 1368 items are loaded from my collection
LATEST ADDITIONS – ALRO slide charts
Dutch maker All-Round, better known as ALRO, is best known for its unique circular metal slide rules where the lid doubles up as a handy desk stand. In the 1970’s ALRO reinvented themselves producing instead plastic slide charts, rules & cards. Check them out here ...
MINI REFRESH
It was time for a spring clean. Some information on this website needed refreshing and/or updating.
The changes were not major but I also made the “look & feel” more consistent.
SAD NEWS
Tom Martin, one of the UKSRC's longest serving members, sadly passed away in hospital at the beginning of January. Tom was an international expert on all things Gauging, Brewing and Hydrometry. He was a warm-hearted gentle giant who would always freely share his knowledge with fellow collectors. Tom will be sorely missed.
MAJOR MAKERS IN PICTURES
Rod Lovett’s facility listing the slide rule models of 14 major makers has recently been expanded with 7 new image archives – click HERE to take a look.
LATEST GAZETTE IS OUT!
Issue 22 of the UKSRC Gazette is another bumper edition - 160 pages with 20 in-depth articles. As ever, this non-profit publication is excellent value for money & there is even a modestly priced PDF version for parts of the world were postage costs are prohibitive. Use this LINK to order your copy from the UKSRC Subscription & Gazettes webpage.
TWO IMPORTANT NEW e-BOOKS!
Thanks to Jose G. Fernández collectors can now download free-of-charge English & Spanish translations of Rechenschieber im Wandel der Zeit - a book published in 2009 by Guus Craenen. It charts the development and evolution of the slide rule from 1787 to 1905. Click HERE to go to the download webpage.
F-C BOOK UPDATED
After going digital 15 months ago and over 1,000 free downloads it was time for an update. Edition V8.1 of Peter Holland’s definitive book (in English and German) on every slide rule made by A.W. Faber and A.W. Faber-Castell is now free to download from here ….
MAGICAL SLIDE RULES
Did you know a special model exists for each house of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry? Depending on your Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin affiliations select your Harry Potter inspired sorcerous slide rule simulation from Robert Wolf’s website ...
The IMPOSIBLE is POSSIBLE!
Generically a slide rule can solve complex calculations but CANNOT do simple arithmetic. A rare and unusual exception is the newest addition to the collection - a System Korte slide rule that CAN add and subtract!
Amazing Digital Slide Rule
Ace Hoffman has developed an awesome simulation of a linear, round, concentric and drum slide rule. From Ace's Homepage download a function-rich version for your phone, tablet or desktop.
TOP SECRET !!
Lawrence made the only known slide rule considered 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.
