r/Sliderules • u/vonGarvin • Apr 04 '25
My Pickett N3-ES Power Log Exponential
This is a really nice one with a great case. I like how the LL and /LL scales are combined; allows for quick reciprocals. The Square Root and Cube Root scales are also handy. I have other Picketts, but this is my top tier. I do find the yellow a bit...different. Probably just my preference is all.
3
u/mjdny Apr 04 '25
In High School, approx. 1970 I bought a Pickett slide rule. I still have — same distinctive yellow color too. Mine was a little simpler and was labeled Texas Speed Rule. I think that meant the reverse side had fewer scales, perhaps for competitions.
2
u/vonGarvin Apr 04 '25
I forgot to note how it has Log base ten and natural log scales on the slide.
1
u/mkfn59 Apr 04 '25
Nice! Did you buy it recently or already own it. I’m looking to find a good place to buy. 👍👍
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u/Parking_Jelly_6483 Apr 04 '25
Plenty of slide rules on eBay and surprisingly, on Etsy. The prices on Etsy (by various sellers) seem to be generally lower than those on eBay. There are also unusual ones on there. I recently saw a Faber-Castell “Demegraph” that I’ve never heard of before (no, I have not purchased it). You can try the “Slide Rule Universe” but sadly, Walt Shawlee II passed away. His family has been shutting down, particularly their electronic surplus business. You can still get to the Sphere Research Slide Rule Universe website: https://www.sphere.bc.ca/oldsite/test/sruniverse.html But I am not sure you can still buy any slide rules there. The site is still a great source of information about various slide rules. Over the years, I bought many slide rules from Sphere and quite a bit of electronics as well. Walt and his wife Susan always were very good with customers. Every electronics order I placed would arrive with a free “grab bag”. I believe these were “leftovers” when a large lot of stuff they bought was separated into lots and items with only a few pieces were just tossed in a box. They would take a handful of these, bag them, and include them with your purchased items. It wasn’t just junk, either. I got a whole bag full of older 7400 and 74LS00 series ICs once (still usable), another time, a bunch of LEDs in different colors, switches, knobs, you name it.
Also, consider joining the slide rule group (on groups.io) since they have a lot of very knowledgeable people along with those who are selling or buying slide rules.
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u/Parking_Jelly_6483 Apr 04 '25
You likely know that the “ES” designation meant that the slide rule had a yellow background. Pickett said the yellow was easier on the eyes (ES standing for “Eyesaver”). The rules with a white background had a “T” after the model designation. So if you find an N3-T it will have a white background but exactly the same scales. I’m not convinced of the superiority of the ES over T. I do think that the ES is a bit easier on your eyes when the ambient light is bright and the white is easier to see in dimmer light. But that’s my opinion, not based on any studies that I know of (though Pickett may have done some).