In 1991, when unpacking a removal box, I came across the long-forgotten slide rule from my student days. I was intrigued - when did they become obsolete? Soon a bizarre tongue-in-cheek idea struck me: “What else could an (ex)computer man collect but analogue slide rules!”
Slide rules do not wear out or get easily damaged and unlike modern-day calculators, they do not need batteries! Most slide rules have a pair of Log x (C/D) scales but can come in many shapes and sizes:
Nearly all the items online are slide rules but various slide charts, novel calculating aids, a hybrid or two and even the odd electronic calculator also feature. For fledgling or existing slide rule collectors the Reference Manual published by the Oughtred Society succinctly covers the basics and much more. Or try An Easy Introduction to the Slide Rule by Isaac Asimov (yes, the SF writer). However, for cleaning/restoration tips Eric Marcotte’s or Tom Dilatush’s webpages have good ideas and helpful tips.
The slide rules in my collection come from many makers. The niche sections are my ♫ acoustic ♫ (yes, they exist!) and my oversized desktop slide rules but I also look out for models with a quirky use - e.g. for Church bells. These days I primarily focus on adding models from the Dutch slide rule makers: ALRO and Systeem Matthijssen. The entire collection has grown to 2000+ slide rules, 200+ slide charts, 40+ Ready Reckoners, 15+ slide adders, 30+ mechanical calculators and a handful of electric calculators. Every month or so I try to add a new batch - so far, roughly two-thirds of the collection is uploaded.
Do try one of the adjacent SEARCH options or the BROWSE ALL function to see items of interest.
Maker | Model(s) |
---|---|
A.W. Faber-Castell | 1/38, 8/13, 8/14, 8/15, 20/44/3 & 51/88 |
Addiator GmbH | Octadat |
AHREND (Wed. J. Ahrend & Zoon) | 649, 651, 696, 698, 699 & 701 |
ALRO (All-Round) | 101, 10 RL, Beton, Cycloop, GoA, Ha.C/P/Q/V, 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 (Ingenieurbuero fuer wirtschaftliches Arbeiten) | 15489 Harmonik |
Johann Faber | 180/080, 180/082, 9201, 9202, 9203 & 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, TR, 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 |
Tip: separate keywords (implict AND) by a space or a comma and if needed, limit the search by adding keywords proceeded by a hyphen: e.g.-Faber, -plastic. Phrases in quotes may also be used.
Note: given the large number of items the list can take a minute or two to build.
Maker | Model | Type |
---|---|---|
A.W. Faber-Castell | 111/22 | Business |
A.W. Faber-Castell | 2/82 | Technical/Log-Log |
A.W. Faber-Castell | 2/83 | Technical/Log-Log long-scale |
A.W. Faber-Castell | 62/83 | Pocket Technical/Log-Log long-scale |
Addiator GmbH | ARITHMA | Pocket Slide Adder - silver |
Addiator GmbH | DUPLEX | Slide Adder - silver |
AHREND (Wed. J. Ahrend & Zoon) | 642T | Rietz |
ALRO (All-Round) | 10 R (AC-1.45a) | Waistcoat Rietz two-tone |
ALRO (All-Round) | 100 R (AC-1.04a) | Rietz - H |
ALRO (All-Round) | 100 R (AC-1.04b) | Rietz - early |
ALRO (All-Round) | 1010 Commercial (AC-1.18) | Business long-scale |
ALRO (All-Round) | 200 R (AC-1.05a) | Rietz - two-tone paper discs |
ALRO (All-Round) | 200 RL (AC-1.49a) | Rietz |
ALRO (All-Round) | 300 D (AC-1.08a) | Darmstadt |
ALRO (All-Round) | 400 D (AC-1.09) | Darmstadt two-tone |
ALRO (All-Round) | 500 N (AC-1.11) | Basic two-tone |
ALRO (All-Round) | 600 E (AC-1.19) | Electro |
ALRO (All-Round) | GEVAERT (AC-8.07) | Photography |
ALRO (All-Round) | KLOOS (AC-1.30) | Steel Constructions |
ALRO (All-Round) | MILITAIRE REKENSCHIJF (AC-1.32) | Military Terrain Analysis two-tone |
ALRO (All-Round) | MILITARY CALCULATOR (AC-1.nn) | Military Terrain Analysis two-tone |
ALRO (All-Round) | PHILIPS DATA SYSTEMS (AC-3.11) | Desktop Memory Mapping for computer programmers |
ALRO (All-Round) | PLANISFEER (AC-6.05) | Desktop Astronomy - Northern Hemisphere |
ALRO (All-Round) | PTT DECIBEL (AC-1.42) | Radio Electronics |
ALRO (All-Round) | SHELL VISCOKLOK (AC-1.40) | Petroleum |
ALRO (All-Round) | ST 9-430/2 (AC-1.34a) | Military Artillery Range Finding (1 of 2) |
ALRO (All-Round) | SYNRES (AC-2.23) | Desktop Paint Viscosity/Conversion |
Aristo | 803 MonoRietz | Pocket Rietz two-tone |
Blundell Brothers/Rules Ltd. (BRL) | G.2 | Enhanced Mannheim without Trig scales |
Blundell Brothers/Rules Ltd. (BRL) | L.4 | Log-Log |
Blundell Harling Ltd. (BH) | 500 | Academy Log-Log |
CONCISE (K.K. Konsaisu) | 28 | Pocket Enhanced Mannheim without Trig scales |
CONCISE (K.K. Konsaisu) | CTCS-552 | Pocket Chemical |
Dennert & Pape (D&P) | D 2/28 | Enhanced Mannheim - early |
Dennert & Pape (D&P) | S 6/28 (System Rietz) | Rietz |
DIWA (Dansk Industri Waterpas A/S ) | 1-1 Rietz-Ideal | Rietz |
DIWA (Dansk Industri Waterpas A/S ) | 201 Technical (ver.1) | Rietz |
ECOBRA (Bayerische Reisszeugfabrik) | 1461 | Pocket Rietz |
Graphoplex | 620 d (ver. 1) | Rietz |
Graphoplex | 630 | Geometre Stadia Topography - 400g early |
Graphoplex | 640 | Electro Log-Log |
Heath & Co. | Hezzanith Le Patourel | Celestial Navigation/Mannheim |
Hemmi | 135 | Pocket Darmstadt |
Hemmi | 255D | Electro Hyperbolic |
Hemmi | 260 | Log-Log |
Kingson | Pocket Calculator | Pocket Slide Adder |
Nestler | 0210 | Darmstadt |
Nestler | 0320 | Petroleum two-tone - System Dr. Schmeling |
Nestler | 0370 | Electro |
Nestler | 11 (narrow) | Pocket Enhanced Mannheim |
Nestler | 3 | Mannheim |
Nestler | 37 | Electro - early |
Nestler | 9 | Rietz |
Nestler | ABL | Military Vehicle Logistics & Supply |
Pickett & Eckel | N600-ES | Pocket Log-Log |
RUYI (Si Da Rule Factory) | 1083 | Log-Log Hyperbolic |
Unknown | Forcing Disc | Horticulture |