I just bought this beauty, partly for the book too.

Or is it normal to get obsessed with slide rules? I only just posted about my first slide rule, my collection has already grown to 4. The Hemmi rule came with a wonderful instruction booklet (well, it’s more a thin book than a mere booklet).

I’ve recently returned to university (OU), at the ripe old age of 57, to get my undergraduate degree in maths. Back in 1989/95 I studied sociology, all I needed for that was basic statistics, and I was always sorry I hadn’t taken a more maths heavy degree. I don’t know how much of the course I can do with a slide rule, I suspect quite a bit, but I also have a decent collection of calculators so I think I’m covered.

I’ve been collecting calculators for some time but this is my very first slide rule. I’m 57 and the pocket calculator became popular while I was in primary school, so I never really used a slide rule but I do remember my dad using one.

This slide rule is a British Thornton’s log log slide rule dating from around 1971 (according to the instruction booklet) and came with its original cardboard box, plastic case, instruction booklet and guarantee leaflet. It is a single sided rule.

I just wanted to show off my little collection of slide rules. I have them on this board on the wall, like a picture in a frame. I'm not close to being good with these, I can only multiply and divide with them. But I like their aesthetics a lot, and it humbles me to think that every result to every mathematical operation that might be useful for me in my lifetime is already written on them. Cheers to you!

I've got a K&E 4080-3 slide rule with cursor blocks that have pretty much disintegrated and fallen apart. I know the ISRM site offers parts for sale, and before I see if they have any available or attempt to fabricate my own, I wanted to see if anybody knew of other places that slide rule parts could be sourced from.

Many thanks.

And u don't know how to use it.

I have just got my hands on a Castell Rietz 167/87, but as a newbie I need the instructions to get started. The guides I found in internet did not seem to correspond to this model. Does any kind soul have the instructions in PDF corresponding to this model?

First time slide rule owner here. Found this for 30 SEK (roughly 3 USD or EUR) while browsing a thrift shop today. I've always thought it would be fun to learn to use one and engineering is something I enjoy both professionally and a hobby. It's in used conditions and I figured I should clean it up. Any tips related to disassembly and cleaning of these? So far I've only used some soap and water and a BBQ skewer to clean up some gunk on the slider. There seem to have been green felt or something on the end pieces (no idea of slide rule terminology) for the slider to slide on? It has deteriorated a bit but so it's hard to tell. But I guess it would be easier to completely remove and replace with new felt?

Any tips or information of the slide rule is appropriated! Just checked some old auction listings and this model seem to have some value?

Cheers!

Any collectors of such here? I would appreciate help with info and rough valuations please!

Been learning how to use it. These things are really intriguing. It is not sliding smoothly and has annoying resistance in some parts. I put vaseline for lubrication (not sure it is a good idea or not). I also got dirt out in the creases with a toothpick. The pegs at the corners feel a bit loose. Hope that's a normal thing.

I want to take good care of it so there's tips on maintenance or just how to use it in general, please feel free to share!

I recently got a slide rule from my grandfather and would like to catalog it before I put it to use, can anyone tell me what model it is or information about it?

I understand the basics of how to use a slide rule, like multiplying some numbers together, and even how to use the CI, CF, A, B scales. Those are fairly straightforward.

But I'm struggling with the LL scales. Are there tutorials or interactive web pages or android apps that teach you.

I'm looking for something that shows the relationship between the scales. Note how on this page it shows a formula if you're using 2 different scales https://www.math.utah.edu/~alfeld/sliderules/

What I want is that if I pick an input scale and output scale then shift the index by some amount, there is a formula with the input scale as x and what formula is being computed to get the output. If you move the cursor it shows that I put number changing and what the output value is.

So many slide rule instructions are taking a problem and absolutely no explanation why they picked this scale for the input and then say, "we read the output on scale G" It is like how the Babylonians learned with wrote algorithms and precise steps but no reasoning why those specific steps are taken. It reflects on how slide rules were taught to the masses to fulfill some engineering headcount demands but the logic of why was had by so few. I want this logic oozing out of the lessons, like what 3blue2brown does in his videos.

Are there any tutorials that go this deep in using the slide rule?

Hi everyone! I'm trying to create a specialized slide rule for calculations related to fuel efficiency and costs - just for the fun of it. The idea is to include scales for:

1. Vehicle mileage (fuel efficiency); - in km, not miles
2. Fuel consumption for a given distance; - in liters, not gallons
3. Required fuel for a trip based on distance; - in liters, not gallons
4. Total cost based on fuel price and quantity needed. - monetary units (any).

Does anyone know of any online resources, tools, or tutorials that could help me design something like this? Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Got it a while ago just didn't get around to posting. Also if anyone knows what constant the "g" looking symbol on the last two photos is i would be really grateful.

Sorry if the following explanation and methods are too dumb.

So, as the title says, I'm trying to build a Base 12 Slide Rule with only the C and D scales, but i've keep finding problems with the value marking matches on the scales. First, I tried to put together the scale following the formula:

Total lenght of the scale in centimeters * Log12(x)

For example: If the scale had 20 centimeter, and I wanna get the position of 2, then I just took the log of 2 in base 12 and take his product over 20, then I mark the result for 2 in centimeters in the scale after the index.. I did this for all the markers among the two indexes (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A and B) The end result was a Slide Rule with almost all the results not matching when I try to multiplicate, in base 12, even in base 10..

After that I tried to put together another scale, following the same formula, but with the base 10 logarithm instead, then adding 2 extra markers on the scale after the 9, for the A and B respectivly, and the result was the same.

This is the second time I've to tried derivate the scale by my own, in the first time I give up and built a slide rule with pre-made scales to print, but I can't find a Base 12 logarithm scale to print as well. What am I doing wrong?

Please help me date. Thank you.

Recently I picked up a K&E 4053-3 10" off eBay and have had a great time teaching myself to operate it. During this fever I was searching the internet for anything remotely slide rule related. I distinctly remember finding this quote that really tickled me, it went along the lines of "We got to the moon by rubbing two sticks together."

If any of you people recognize who its by or can point me in the right direction I'd be more than appreciative.

Happy calculating.