Anyone use a slide rule???

[waddycall]

I’m rubbish at maths and I have a growing hatred for electronics. I recently starting learning trigonometry again for some fine tolerance machining. It occurred to me as I was punching numbers into the calculator that the mystery of what’s going on inside it just distances me from the process so I don’t engage with it.
I bought a slide rule a couple of weeks ago as mechanical stuff always fascinates me. It’s really got me more interested in maths as I want to know how and why it works. I’ve got the hang of the basic functions (multiplication and division) and getting familiar with the trig functions.
Does anyone else use one?

 

[Rannsachair]

I was in the last year in our school to be taught to use them. Not used my "guessing stick" for about 40 years now.

I still have it:

 

[zzr1200]

Now there's a blast from the past, used one 50+ years ago in school, brought 2 several years ago as a gift for my sons, it was fun watching them try and work them out, and there's probably one somewhere in a cupboard here.

They're a marked ratio over length, sliding stick calculator........

2.972 How A Slide Rule Works

PS:- I wonder what they used to design the "Slide Rule" an abacus???

 

[premmington]

Aged 58 - I have never used a slide rule in my life...

It has been all Casio calculators for me - the whole of my life (and I always buy a Casio - don't know why..?)

I do thou - use a "line of chords ruler" with a set of dividers now and again...

 

[zzr1200]

Aged 58 - I have never used a slide rule in my life...

It has been all Casio calculators for me - the whole of my life (and I always buy a Casio - don't know why..?)

I do thou - use a "line of chords ruler" with a set of dividers now and again...

"It has been all Casio calculators for me - the whole of my life (and I always buy a Casio - don't know why..?)"

You've always used and trusted them....

Because the first "Sinclair self-assembly calculator kits" were crap, one of my teachers built this kit, if you multiplied 3x3=9, then x3=27, then div 27 by 3 it = 11.......destination round filing cabinet.......,,......

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8645442/sinclair-cambridge-pocket-calculator

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co63206

 

[addjunkie]

Mine was sorted to the black bag along with a set of log tables when I moved here. In reality our phones are now super computers compared to the early scientific calculators.

 

[8ob]

Designated slide rules are handy for oddball calculations where you would need to remember a formula to make use of a calculator, I have one for hgv brake efficiency vs weight and some others for rads and concrete volumes/weight.

Bob

 

[Robotstar5]

All my calculations were done long hand at school, one of my class mates with affluent parents had one of the first calculators, a Sinclair Cambridge in 1973.
When I started my apprenticeship in 76 Casio had started making more affordable calculators.

 

[rtcosic]

I was in the last year in our school to be taught to use them. Not used my "guessing stick" for about 40 years now.

My academic year was the first to be allowed to use a slide rule in O Level Maths - in place of log tables. A standard school issue 6" wooden one with glued-on plastic markings.

My academic year was the first to be allowed to use calculators in our Finals. A basic add-ups and takeaways only - no SQRTs. Mine was £28-10s from Dixons. My LA grant was £300 per year. I bought it the year we went decimal and prior to Final's year.

Just for you, I rummaged in my drawer of treasured memories:

I haven't used either in anger for decades.

I can just about remember how to multiply and divide on my guessing sticks, but trig is long forgotten.

I recall large circular and drum 'slide rules' in the design 'lab'.

Then there were those mechanical calculators with motor drive. Set them up to divide the maximum register of 9's by 10 to the minus maximum, then go for a coffee and a hand of bridge.

EtA: Brother-in-Law collects them. He has one of the model used on Apollo 11.

I'll ask him to send photographs.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Still got one, but not the one used back in the 60s at school. Got my first calculator in 74, was discounted for the sales team at Bayer Agrochem (girlfriend was tech writer with them). Special feature was a constant...

If your 'slipstick' had any info on the back, it had to be taped over for 'O' & 'A' level exams.

 

[Porkypine]

Still got an old Thornton slide rule, last time I used it was to mess about converting dimensions in 00 gauge to 0 gauge, I could've just asked the 'tintrnet but fancied doing it 'mechanically' instead

 

[Cobbler]

Still got one somewhere, never used it for anything other than at school. I did an adult day release course at tech college in about 1985ish & told required a slide rule, bought a new one & never used it. I remember my father using one though.

 

[Morris]

I still have my Thornton slide rule bought in 1970 when I started tech (ONC first year). I can't remember how to use it

 

[harveyp6]

I last used a slide rule at school, and I left school just over fifty years ago. I doubt I could use it now. I kept it for quite a few years before it got chucked.
Log tables are another blast from the past for me as well.

 

[Rannsachair]

I think my steam tables are in a box in the loft, never used them after my degree.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Last time I used one was as a lab assistant in 1974 - then management lashed out and bought us a calculator. We still had non digital vernier calipers though !

 

[Seadog]

My Thorton was bought for me in 1967 when I started A level Engineering Scoence. Subsequently played with during my HND. Then consigned to a drawer. Recently it gained a friend that a mate was throwing out
I had an early Sinclair calculator which a college pal got me since he worked during his sandwich at Sinclair. Later upgraded to the scientific, which I still have somewhere.

 

[bricol]

Do those holo-krome selector cards count?

I've got a good selection of those

 

[zzr1200]

Last time I used one was as a lab assistant in 1974 - then management lashed out and bought us a calculator. We still had non digital vernier calipers though !

I prefer non digital calipers, they don't get confused by coolant and flat-ish batteries....

 

[AKN]

I’m rubbish at maths and I have a growing hatred for electronics. I recently starting learning trigonometry again for some fine tolerance machining. It occurred to me as I was punching numbers into the calculator that the mystery of what’s going on inside it just distances me from the process so I don’t engage with it.
I bought a slide rule a couple of weeks ago as mechanical stuff always fascinates me. It’s really got me more interested in maths as I want to know how and why it works. I’ve got the hang of the basic functions (multiplication and division) and getting familiar with the trig functions.
Does anyone else use one?

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