A selection of sites I regularly visit or use for reference. Please let me know if you think I have overlooked any interesting/important sites. | |
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Site owner/purpose | Description/reason for my interest |
Arithmomuseum | Prime reference sites for Hungarian-made slide rules - e.g. Gamma, Calderoni, Rotor, etc. |
Ace Hoffman’s simulations | Amazing Digital Slide Rule: download for your phone, tablet or desktop an an awesome free simulation of a linear, round, concentric or drum slide rule |
Andries de Man’s site | Prime reference site for many documents recording the History of Calculators |
Antonio Pérez-Prados (ES) | Prime reference site for old calculating aids used for education in schools |
ARC (ES) | Spanish “Amigos de las Reglas de Cálculo” collectors group |
Art Simon | Prime reference site for everything to do with slide rule wristwatches (via Wayback Machine from 2013) |
Barbara Haeberlin’s site (D) | RECHNERLEXICON: a superb information-rich site & largest encyclopedia of Mechanical Computing |
Bill Robinson’s list | Prime reference site for everything to do with slide rules with Hyperbolic scales - his work resulted in the Hyperbolic Slide Rule Archive |
Bob Adam’s site | Collector friend from “Down-Under” with a special interest in Electro and Hyperbolic slide rules - his work resulted in the Electronic Archive |
Bob Wolfson | Eclectic mix of slide rules including some unusual models |
Books & Manuals search | ISRM library/archive search: over 500 downloadable slide rule related books, manuals, instruction sheets, etc |
British Industrial History | Grace's Guide: prime reference site for post industrial revolution information & reference sources on companies, products and people |
Catalogue search | Herman’s Archive: Herman van Herwijnen’s (1929–2004) legacy online “Blue Book” catalogue of more than 5000 slide rules & calculating aids |
Chris Sangwin’s site (archived) | Many readable articles explaining the history and background to slide rules & other mathematical instruments (via Wayback Machine from 2016) |
Clark McCoys’ site | Prime reference site for everything to do with slide rule maker Keuffel & Esser (catalogues/manuals/etc) |
Colin Tombeur’s site | Juggler/collector with special focus on pre WW2 Faber/Faber-Castell slide rules + own design specialised slide rules (e.g. for juggling) |
Coopers’ Tool Museum | Prime reference site for vintage wooden rules |
Daniel Toussaint’s † site (F) | Prime reference site for antique calculating aids & specifically for slide rule maker GRAPHOPLEX |
Dating & Timeline guide | ISRM’s handy “one-stop” aid for dating slide rules from various makers |
Dave Hoyer’s site | Prime reference site for everything to do with slide rule precision, accuracy and significant digits |
David Green’s site | Prime reference site for everything to do with Planimeters |
David M Riches’ site | Prime reference site for slide rule maker Blundell Harling + superb collection of mathematical instruments/slide rules. |
David Walker’s site | Novel take on accuracy “Typical Slide Rules Under the Microscope” + follow-on piece "The quest for precision and accuracy" |
Denis Roegel’s site | LOCOMAT: prime reference site for everything to do with important historical mathematical tables |
Dick Lyon’s site | Prime reference site for everything to do with slide rule maker Carbic/Otis King calculator (history, models, types, dating, etc) |
Douglas K. Stevenson | DRGM & DRP dates: shortcut for estimating issuing year of a German patent or German Registered Design (via Wayback Machine from 2016) |
Electro types search | Electronic Archive: Rod Lovett facility based on the work by Bob Adams over many years to search for all specialist Electro & Electronic types |
Encyclopaedia of Mechanical Calculating | Rechnerlexikon: rich source of articles/images and patent related information on every possible aspect of mechanical calculating |
Encyclopedia search | ISRM Glossary search: extensive glossary of slide rule related terms and definitions |
Fabrizio Brentini’s site (D) | Prime reference site for almost anything related to maker A.W. Faber/A.W. Faber-Castell |
Friedrich Diestelkamp’s site | Prime reference site for everything to do with the “big world of small calculators” (Addiatiors) |
George Keane’s site | Prime reference site for the history of slide rule maker Festus Mfg. Co. and its successor The Acu-Rule Mfg. Co. |
Gerhard Wenzel’s site | Prime reference site for everything to do with pocket calculating devices |
Giovanni Breda’s site | Cosmopolitan diverse collection of slide rules & mechanical calculators |
Gonzalo Martin’s site (F) | PhotoCalcul: Prime site for makers GRAPHOPLEX, Lenoir, Tavernier-Gravet & others lesser-known French makers (history/dating/catalogues) |
Greg Scott’s site | Greg’s Slide Rules: handy site for a range of downloadable manuals |
Herbert Schneemann & Walter Szrek’s (D) | Prime reference site for everything to do with calculating machines |
Hubert van Dongen’s site | Archive site predominantly for maker A.W. Faber/A.W. Faber-Castell |
Hyperbolic scales search | Hyperbolic Slide Rule Archive: Rod Lovett search facility using Bill Robinson’s earlier work identifying SR's with Sh & Th vector scales |
IMAGE search | Handy website that allows a reverse search on an existing image or the URL of an existing image |
Instrument Makers search | Webster Signature Database: compiled by Roderick S. & Marjorie K. Webster holding information about people who made/signed scientific instruments (via Wayback Machine from 2021) |
ISRG search | International Slide Rule Group: online discussion forum for slide rules and associated mechanical calculating instruments |
Jeffrey Donovan’s site (archived) | Prime reference site for everything to do with the Sikes' Hydrometer (via Wayback Machine from 2014) |
Jim Cerny’s list | Prime reference list for slide rules & slide charts for machining operations, often with the use of a lathe |
John Oakhill’s site | Prime reference site for slide rule maker Thornton/P.I.C. |
John Vossepoel | Planimetrica: prime reference site for catalogues of scientific instruments |
John Wolff’s | Web Museum: prime reference site for everything to do with calculating machines (mechanical & electronic) |
Jorge Fabregas’ site (ES) | ZAZAA: Prime reference site (history/images/catalogues/manuals/patents/cursor evolution/etc) for maker A.W. Faber/A.W. Faber-Castell |
Jörn Lütjens Online Museum | JOM: features (I) Abacus Museum, (ii) Slide Rule Museum and (iii) ARISTO electronic pocket calculators - all based on Jörn’s collection |
JOS literature search | OS Journal Literature Search: Rod Lovett’s facility to search for PDF versions of articles published in the Journal of the Oughtred Society |
José Carlos’ site (ES) | Prime reference site for slide rule maker ARISTO |
Jose G. Fernández (ES) | Prime reference site (part of ARC site) for all known Spanish-made slide rules/slide charts - listed alphabetically with full details & images |
Kees Nagtegaal’s site | Mechanical Calculator: great site for non-electric mechanical calculating devices. |
Kimura Satoru’s site (J) | Prime reference site for Japanese made slide rules |
Klaus Kühn’s site (D) | COLLECTANEA de LOGARITHMIS: prime reference site for everything to do with Logarithms and their spiritual father: John Napier |
KRING (NL) | Dutch Circle for Historical Calculating Instruments |
Landesmuesum site (D) | TECHNOSEUM: Prime reference site for slide rules from maker NESTLER |
Literature search | Slide Rule Article Search: Rod Lovett’s unmissable facility to search for literary sources/references published in the JOS, Gazette, Skid Stick or IM proceedings |
Long-Scale types search | Long Scale Slide Rule Archive: Rod Lovett facility based on the late Ed Chamberlain’s earlier work (reorganised by yours truly) to search for all types with a long-scale |
Louis van Wijk’s site | One of two reference sites for Radiation and Nuclear Fallout slide rules |
MAAS Museum | MAAS: Australian Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences’ online eclectic collection of well catalogued slide rules |
Major Makers | Catalogue listings & galleries of slide rules from the Major Makers: Rod Lovett facility of fourteen major makers - from ALRO to UNIQUE |
Makers/brand history | Christian Hamann’s handy potted history of many popular slide rule brands/makers |
Martin Brenner’s site | Prime reference site for everything to do with Pilot Balloon slide rules |
Martin Šesték’s site (CZ) | Prime reference site for everything to do with slide rule maker LOGAREX and other Czechoslovakian makers |
Mike Konshak’s site | ISRM: International Slide Rule Museum - a superb information-rich site for everything and anything calculator orientated |
Nathan Zeldes’ site | History of Computing: information packed site featuring many interesting slide rules & other historical computing artefacts |
Nicola Marras site | Calcolatoria Educational Solutions: prime reference site for calculating teaching aids & material to inspire the youth of today |
NSN/NIIN search | National Stock Number/National Item Identification Number search: the 9 or 13 digit numbers often found on slide rules commissioned by governmental MoD’s, etc |
Oak Ridge Associated Universities site | One of two reference sites for Radiation and Nuclear Fallout slide rules |
OS | American Oughtred Society |
Patent search | ESPACENET: worldwide search facility of the European Patent Office |
Paul Ross’ site (dealer) | The Slide Rule Trading Co.: specialises in selling spare parts but importantly also has the most complete HEMMI catalogue and POST cross-reference table |
Price & scarcity check | eBay Slide Rule Search: Rod Lovett’s facility for checking the USD prices & scarcity of eBay slide rule auction postings dating back to November 1999 |
Rarities Gallery OS | Rarities Gallery: a collection hosted by the Oughtred Society of rare items from the member collections |
Rarities Gallery UKSRC | Rarities Gallery: a collection hosted by the UK Slide Rule Circle of rare items from the member collections |
Rick Furr’s site | Prime reference site for everything to do with the Liechtenstein-made CURTA mechanical calculator |
Robert Wolf’s site | Prime site for downloadable replica simulations of many well-known models from different makers & including a model for each House of Hogwarts! |
Rod Lovett’s site | Prime reference site for maker ARISTO and Herman’s Archive but also legendary site for Rod’s own collection + an essential set of search facilities and much more |
Ron Manley’s site | Legendary multi-faceted site for all aspects of slide rule collecting |
RST (D) | German Slide Rule Collectors Group but their website doubles as a digital archive for many interesting articles, meeting reports, etc |
Scale Finder | ISRM’s reference list/graphical depiction of Andrew Nikitin's 75 different slide rule scales |
Stephan Heimann’s site (D under construction) | Prime reference site for everything to do with Civil Engineering slide rules |
Stephan Weiss’ site (D) | Prime reference site for the History of Mechanical Calculation with Numbers |
Steve Searle’s site (under development) | Steve’s Slide Rules: impressive mixture of specialist models & books - particularly handy is the grouping of specialist models into trade/profession based categories |
The National Museum of American History | Prime reference site for a wide-range & eclectic mix of mainly American slide rules |
UK Registered Design search | The National Archives: dating guide for “diamond/lozenge shaped” registration marks & catalogue of registered designs 1839-1991 |
UK Trade Mark search | The National Archives: catalogue of recognisable symbols of a specific manufacturer or brand registered as a trade mark 1876-1938 |
UKSRC | UK Slide Rule Circle |
University of Greifswald site (D) | Extensive online collection of digital & analogue calculating instruments - including many slide rules |
Virtual Museum of Slide Rules | Prime reference site for everything to do with Hungarian makers such as Gamma |
Walter Shawlee II site (dealer) | SPHERE: The Slide Rule Universe - has a great archive alongside items for sale |
Wayne Harrison’s site | One collector's interesting take on what constitutes unusual slide rules |
Websites search | Net Search: Rod Lovett’s unmissable facility for searching known slide rule & calculating related websites |
WWII British broad arrow letter codes | UK MoD: list of dates that correspond to letter codes that can appear alongside broad arrow "crows feet" pheon |