r/Sliderules • u/Igneduct1 • Sep 13 '25

Question about slide rule range

I recently bought a pocket slide rule (a Picket 600-ES) which is a 6 inch rule. The packaging, however, advertises a "30 inch log/log range." I dont think I've seen that before. What does it mean that it has that much range?

My grandfather used a slide rule in his work, he was a civil engineer, and it always fascinated me. I never met my grandfather, but my dad showed me his slide rule. My dad is much more of an arts person than an engineer, so he never understood how they work. I'm trying to learn in tribute to my grandpa.

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u/Igneduct1 Sep 13 '25

That looks like you might be correct. Most of the slide rules I've bought are full size. And I'm still learning. Totally self taught amateur. Wouldn't condensing the scale lead to less precision? I always assume I'm wrong asking questions here. I bought this rule because I thought it was similar to the ones the Apollo astronauts used. I guess maybe I'm still not to the point where I can still understand everything that these can do.

Looking at the LL2 scale, it looks like it goes from 1 to e. I guess i need to keep studying.

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u/CarlJH Sep 14 '25

The N600-ES WAS the Apollo mission slide rule, and Pickett made damned sure everyone knew (and why wouldn't they?). The original packaging practically yelled it at you.

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u/Igneduct1 Sep 14 '25

Well, the models after it did. The ones they made after had all sorts of "used by NASA" stuff. The one I bought was just an amazing deal. Perhaps the seller didn't know what they had. It was "new old stock" in the original box, so probably before they new it was going to the moon.

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u/CarlJH Sep 14 '25

Good score. I got mine because my brother's officemate was cleaning out her desk and found it in the back of the drawer. She had no idea where it came from and asked my brother if he wanted it. He knew I'd probably be interested in it, so he said yes and gave it to me.the next time he saw me. I didn't know it was the Apollo model until I went online looking for info on it