The main idea of any old or new slide rule is 4 that we write each. Well, i stumbled on this forum googling some slide rule info, and id like to say thanks for both the link to the slide rule book pdf and to fabercastells online shop. I taught evening classes in solid state circuit design at our local community college from 1967 to 2000, and during the pre calculator days, around 1974, i assumed my students had a firm grasp on slide rule operation. Old pilots watches feature these slide rules, and any newer pilotstyle watches also have this. Cheapskatesincluding this authorcarried plastic ones. Slide rule instruction manuals here are a few instruction manuals for aw faber faber castell slide rules that i have acquired, most came with slide rules as indicated. The author was managing director of the company that made unique slide rules but as this was a. Slide rule proportion, percentage, squares and square roots. Students first need to complete questions on the student worksheet logarithmsdemystified. Slide rule instructor containing new and important rules upon the present practice of engineering etc for the improved slide rule by j. Assembly instructions hairline cursor slider title.
Use your slides to emphasize a point, keep yourself on track, and illustrate a point with a graphic or photo. All slide rules consist of logarithmic scales that can be moved in relation to each other in order to do basic mathematical calculations. Constructing and understanding new and old scales on slide rules. The slide rule, a practical manual, 23rd edition 1942 by c. Division on a slide rule involves the exact steps used in multiplication on the c and d scales, but in reverse order. These video tutorials are designed to only be used by properly trained and certified technicians.
Each just needs to be cutout and placed onto a cd case. Spheres new in box nib pickett slide rule page buy. Henry suttons slide rule top was an early circular rule circa 1663. Slide rule, a device consisting of graduated scales capable of relative movement, by means of which simple calculations may be carried out mechanically. Peter alfeld, department of mathematics, college of science university of utah what can you do with a slide rule. We strongly believe every hvac technician should own a supercool slide rule. Slide rules come in many different styles, including sliding bars and rotating cylinders and circles. To divide 4 by 2, find 4 on the d scale and place the hairline over it.
Notes on frederick post slide rules, in the journal of the oughtred. Pdf the most recent ebook is a hard science fiction spell binding yarn about a couple that decide to disobey the forbidden nature of entering. They will use their findings here and the slide rules template to make the slide rules. My high school chemistry teacher 1976 who would only let us use slide rules and our brains during the first semester. Circular slide rules and cylindricalspiral slide rules also appeared quickly. Ci1st number to multiply, goes over top d2nd number to multiply. Jeff weiner brought to my attention that actually there are some slide rules that can add and subtract, specifically the pickett microline 115 and the pickett 901 rules. The sliding center bar is sandwiched by the outer bars which are fixed with respect to each other. The sterling slide rule has standard a, b, c, c, d, and k scales. This one, inspired by the yokota slide rule s scale arrangement, doesnt even require putting scales on the back slide of the slider, thus, construction is basically the same as the postscript slide rule initially offered here as constructed by brian ronald. The slide rule the book, written by florian cajori, is the standard work on the early history of. Pickett trig slide rule instruction manual national. Remember that you are the presenter, not powerpoint.
The slide rule was strong in conversions with a constant factor. An easy introduction to the slide rule by isaac asimov. On the reverse side of the slide, the s, l, and t scales appear, and the slide. Originally published in german in 1977 as the first major book on the history of the slide rule since florian cajoris a history of the logarithmic slide rule, this newly revised and translated edition of slide rules, a journey through three centuries, offers readers a fresh, more continental perspective on this most fascinating of calculating instruments. The accuracy of the calculations made with a slide rule depends on the accuracy with which the user can read the numbers off the scale. Back in 2008 instructables member legionlabs published how to use a slide rule. Located on the slide, most calculations are done in conjunction with the fundamental cd scales. A programmed sequence on the slide rule 1962, pdf mb. The slide rule, a practical manual, 19th edition 1930 by c. This is a circular slide rule first created in the 1930s for aircraft pilots to help with dead reckoning. It contains four different types of slide rules and a tutorial for each. That was done by the user typically by estimation, common sense or by computing the characteristic. There was a time when electronic calculators did not yet exist. These were used by pilots to do simple arithmetic, conversions and other calculations in an era before gps and calculators.
O if your slide is too loose, on most high quality slide rules it can be adjusted, but in the meantime, let the thumb and fingers of your holding hand add a little friction. The a, d, and k scales are on the body, the b, and c scales on the slide. It is unfortunate that, for some reasons not easy to see, the slide rule is sometimes regarded as a difficult instrument with which to become proficient. Scientific american may 2006 university of vermont.
The company continued after that as a cad company under the name aristo graphic systeme. There is also a version as a word document which is smaller 2040 kb. Sharp and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The player who first moves his 4 men from his start to his home, according to the rules, wins the game. Project gutenbergs instruction for using a slide rule, by w. Many pilots watches made make use of a circular slide rule on the bezel of the watch. Highly recommended for archeotech or retrocomputing people. Npr ed before the smartphone, the laptop and the pocket calculator, there was a powerful mechanical computer.
Undergraduate and graduate college students majoring in math, science, or engineering who graduated prior to 1976 used this. You dont have to track down vintage slide rules to play along. To someone who doesnt know how to use it, a slide rule looks like a ruler designed by picasso. A cursor is fixed in the center of the window to allow for accurate readings. Oct 01, 2000 originally published in german in 1977 as the first major book on the history of the slide rule since florian cajoris a history of the logarithmic slide rule, this newly revised and translated edition of slide rules, a journey through three centuries, offers readers a fresh, more continental perspective on this most fascinating of calculating instruments. However, they are a valuable educational tool because of the mathematics behind its design. The slide rule could hardly compete with this, although some of the mentioned features can be fou nd in slide rules. Most students learned slide rule use on the linear slide rules, and did not find reason to switch. The slide rule, a practical manual, 18th edition 1927 by c. Swimwear with zippers, buckles, rivets, or other metal ornaments are not permitted for use riders should remove watches and jewelry. The slide rule is actually made of three bars that are fixed together.
An easy introduction to the slide rule asimov, isaac. Also, the creator of the universal slide rule league a lunchtime 5 minute competition of 10 problems for the slide rule. O fine adjustments of the slide can be made with the thumb and finger of the moving hand at the slide to body joint and twisting. Students are now going to make log slide rules and use these to explore the properties of logs. The link below will take you to dereks virtual slide rule site. Pdf the proper way to use a slide rule researchgate. A player drawing a 3, 5, 8, or 12 card moves forward the corresponding number of. The simplest slide rule would have two log scales that you could use to do multiplication and division see my slide rule introduction page for more info. For the experienced reader we recommend the dualistic slide rule as being the best available for general purposes. It is a simple manual, but very adequate and covers the scales on both the virtual slide rule linked above and the pdf slide rule i built.
This manual is missing page 30, however this section of the manual is identical with the how to use log log slide rules and the missing page from that manual is here. How to use the slide rule international slide rule museum. Thompsons original 1930 slide rule book was also updated in a second 1952 edition the standard manual of the slide rule that many collectors feel is the standard slide rule reference text. With the aid of scales printed on the frame it also helps with such miscellaneous tasks as converting time, distance, speed, and temperature values. The metal window is inserted over the slide rule to act as a place holder. Scales to make a circular slide rule using a cd case by ying hum va3yh canada there are 2 circular slide rule options shown. In a separate calculation you find the order of magnitude by combining the powers of 10. I typed and scanned this in from one of the manuals that came with my n4es slide rule. Unfortunately, i dont have a copy of the revised edition, but even this early work has a lot going for it. Today, slide rules can be found on ebay, antique stores and estate auctions. By the late 17th century, the slide rule was a common instrument with many variations. Stanley this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions. Instructions for using a slide rule project gutenberg. Slide rule was invented by english minister william oughtred in 1622.
The purpose of this particular and quite idiosyncratic slide rule page is to describe common scales used on slide rules, and the kind of mathematical expressions. Speaking about nib slide rules and wondering if it wasnt already told somewhere else on the forum. One slide rule remaining in daily use around the world is the e6b. If you download the instructions, two of the basic slide rules are also attached. Pickett trig slide rule instruction manual national museum. Also, unlike electronic calculators, the slide rule helps the user develop a feel for numbers. Spheres slide rule marketplace buy slide rules online. Some donors have provided these booklets and other paper items, such as advertising flyers, directions for cleaning slide rules, warranty certificates, and. For example, the book shows you how slide rule can be used to i wish he had talked a little more clearly of the theory but i have to say that already having an understanding of logarithms, this really opened my mind to the possibilities of representing them spatially and how they can be.
A book from the same era as my recently acquired slide rule was the best introduction i could have asked for. Move the slider so 2 on the c scale is under the hairline. This instruction manual is for the 4092 and 4092 12. Sphere researchs slide rule universe, build your own. The slide rule the book, written by florian cajori, is the standard work on the early history of the slide rule. It is quicker in action, more accurate in its results and the irritating necessity of traversing the slide when using the more usual type of slide rule is eliminated. Twelfth grade lesson discovering log rules because logs. Bissaker slide rule 1654 circular slide rule king pocket calculator 66 sclales thacher calculator 30 ft. The slide rule, a practical manual, 22nd edition 1941 by c. As graphical analog calculators, slide rules are closely related to nomograms, but the former are used for general calculations, whereas the latter are used for applicationspecific computations.
Look at the graphic used earlier for 2 x 2 in step 5. A member at instructables asked me to explain how to use a slide rule for the sake of those who came along about the time electronic calculators replaced slide rules. Additionally, the slide rule does not tell you where the decimal point is located in the answer. The slide rule universe all kinds of reference information. To do a calculation with a slide rule you reduce all numbers to scientific notation with 24 digits then use the slide rule to perform the basic operations. Slide rules are used for quick calculations, not for purposes that require extreme precision. Amplified card rules the following is in further explanation of the rules printed on the cards, which entirely govern the play of the game. The cursor appeared on the earliest circular models but appeared much later on straight versions. In addition are a few manuals i have written for my own jugglers and radix series slide rules. A standard singleface rule with scales to solve problems in multiplication, division, squares, square roots, reciprocals, trigonometry and logarithms. If you use a different pdf reader, your procedures should be quite similar. Here derek has put together a number of working slide rules that can be used for calculations and demonstrations on the computer.
Nostalgic original keuffel and esser slide rules with their advanced trigonometric and logarithmic scales invoke fond memories in accountants, engineers, scientists, and business consultants. Oughtred society slide rule reference manual the oughtred. In the comment section instructables member mr ross made reference to a may 2006 article in scientific american magazine titled when slide rules ruled. Api flange slide rule 1 16 2 116 2 12 2 916 3 18 3 16 3 116 4 116 5 18 6 7 116 9 11 58 16 34 18 34 20 34 21 14 29 12 30 10m 15m 20m quick links. It remained the tool of choice for many for the next three hundred years. The invention of logarithms in 1614 by the scottish mathematician john napier and the computation and publication of tables of logarithms made it possible to effect multiplication and division by the simpler operations of addition and subtraction.
The cursor travels the full length of the body, and the hairline crosses these scales for direct comparison. Water slides rules read and obey all posted signs and obey instructions given by water park staff. Expecting mothers, people with heart conditions or back trouble should not use the slides. There are already a couple of tutorials posted at instructables on using a slide. Mannheim slide rule 1850 faber castell 283n nestler 23r mannheim issac newton put 3 scales in parallel in 1675 to compute. There are many pages about slide rules on the web, and you can still buy brand new slide rules 40 years old but never used, and still in their factory supplied box in various places. The log log trig slide rule 1936 this instruction manual is for the 409. Once that article was available online in pdf, but has since been removed. These rules have extensive directions on the reverse of the rule.
More divisions allow for more decimal places which means increased accuracy. Right now i am talking with a friend who studied electronics just a couple of years after electronic calculators unceremoniously drove slide rules from the engineering scene. There are at least three different scales, and on most of them the numbers arent even spaced evenly apart. Slide rule image aluminum wide geeky cuff bracelet. The slide rule, also known colloquially in the united states as a slipstick, is a mechanical analog computer. I had had the itch for a 283n and failed to pull the trigger a few years ago, but today the euro has fallen enough that i. I particularly like the simulation of the pickett n 525es, a statistical slide rule and one that is uncommon. Sphere s slide rule site provides information about slide rules.
Shows how to use the slide rule to calculate squares, square roots, proportions and percentages. As a collector, 2014 was my slide rules year after 35 years of electronic and mechanical calculators. The slide rule and other instruments which give the same facilities for rapid calculations, are covered by the term mechanical calculation. Basic slide rule operation for scientists and engineers 10. From the finest to the humblest, however, all slide rules were based on logarithms see box on page 85.
To multiply two numbers on a typical slide rule, the user set the left index start of the scale on the c scale to line up with one, slide rules and logarithm tables slide rule or ii print out papersliderule. Slide rules are rarely used because of the advent of electronic calculators and computers. After explaining the parts of a slide rule, the manual divides the process of learning to use a slide rule into twelve steps, each of which are discussed with examples, solutions, and exercises in the remainder of the pamphlet. Top eight rules for creating a powerpoint presentation 1.
Please remember to disconnect all electrical before servicing any equipment and follow all safety guidelines. This did not stop us from doing complicated things, like going to the moon, figuring out the double helix, or designing the boeing 747. It gave the foundations necessary for the online manuals available for the different rules to make sense. Typical slide rules contain scales for multiplying, dividing, and extracting square roots, and some also contain scales for calculating. Buying and selling slide rules to make your life easier, and help you find exactly what you want, we have broken the online slide rule catalogs into smaller sections.