Thread: Slide Rules Anyone??

Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

... but in real life you're an old guy, like me.

Like everyone of the day, I used my slide rule a lot in college to do the calculations we had to do... but the conversion tables insert that came with the Dietzgen has proved useful throughout my life... [pic here] ... today my slide rule is tucked away in storage, but that conversion table is in my desk drawer for handy reference.

I gotta be honest here. Figuring blade size (5/8, 6/8, etc) and the pyriamid are all the math I want to know. If we are going to have to start using slide rules to shave...I'm growing a beard!

RT

My father taught me to use a slide rule, in school we were the last class to get some training in their use. I am afraid I forgot how to use one.
I must have one somewhere but don't know where. I do even have a spare glass for it, with till receipt of 1979!

My father of 81 still uses them when he studies math. (his hobby).

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

I gotta be honest here. Figuring blade size (5/8, 6/8, etc) and the pyriamid are all the math I want to know. If we are going to have to start using slide rules to shave...I'm growing a beard!

RT

Yeah, but they have beautiful scales.

Tony,

I had a slide rule tie clip as a kid. I wonder where it is??

I learned how to use a slide-rule in 11th grade. Got to start using calculators in my senior year. I still have one left - it was my Dad's from when he was studying engineering when he was in the Marine Corps in WWII. It looks to be bamboo with white plastic venier and glass cursor. The cursor has a crack in it unfortunately. Made by J. Sun if I recall correctly and had some Japanese on it. I also have the matching triangular engineers ruler. I'd never part with them though; I'm too sentimental and nostalgic, just like I still shave with my grandfather's str8.

I think slide-rules are cool, just like I like straight razors and 18th century woodworking tools and fountain pens and black powder rifles and ...

Originally Posted by RichZ

Tony,

I had a slide rule tie clip as a kid. I wonder where it is??

I'm guessing wearing that included a good beating by the class bully?

RT

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

I'm guessing wearing that included a good beating by the class bully?

RT

When I was an engineering student, some of them walked around with slide rules on their belts, kind of like a cell phone. I think that deserves some sort of bully action.

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

I'm guessing wearing that included a good beating by the class bully?

RT

Didn't wear it for that reason

Originally Posted by RichZ

Didn't wear it for that reason

You're cool!

RT