I had a neighbor growing up, a retired electrical engineer. He tried to teach me how to use a slide rule and I learned the very basics. He was a brilliant guy and I wish I took more advantage of his tutelage. I remember that he usually used a 10" rule but for precise calculations he had a much larger one, at least 20", that he kept in a beautiful, custom made wooden case. When he took that down from the shelf, you knew he meant business. I stumbled across your channel today and it inspired me to buy one and see if I can re-learn after about a 45 year lapse. There is something special about the connectedness to the numbers that a slide rule affords and I'm looking forward to working my way through your videos. Cheers!
The Deci-Lon model 68-1100 made by Keuffel & Esser is an excellent ten inch slide rule with 26 scales. It came with a hard leather sheath with detachable belt loop and a hardcover instruction manual. The Deci-Lon slide rule set was priced at $25 back in 1962.
Great to see you bringing out new slide rule videos 😄 Your Faber Castell 2/83 N is a real beauty. I got a "normal" 2/83 for a reasonable price, but clearly a notch below the 2/83 N.
Thanks, I have a number of them in my collection. My 'daily driver' is a Pickett N-3. That is the one I recommend- nearly as capable as the 2/83 but 1/5 the cost.
Of the handful of rules that I have, the best one in terms of quality per price has been my Post Versalog. It has a great selection of scales, it's readable, and you can't beat the action on a bamboo rule. Plus they usually come with one of those old belt sheaths, so you can wear them in public to ensure you are never in danger of getting a single date. They're usually only 30 or so bucks.
I wanted to recommend a book I just bought that others watching this channel might appreciate. "A Manual of the Slide Rule: Its History, Principle, and Operation" by J.E. Thompson. It's a reprint of a book published in 1930 and available at Amazon. Lots of great information. I was particularly interested in the tables of conversions and settings for common problems. It gives a quick view into what is possible with a slide rule. I'm assuming that engineers had standard references with these settings and conversions available. If anyone can recommend a source, I'd really enjoy trying to track one down.
I have two lovely slide rules, a British Thornton P221 & a Faber Castell 2/83 N. What i would like to ask is what is the best way to clean and maintain the slide rule?
Great question! Assuming you are happy with the action (ie slide has just the right amount of tension you like) it is quite easy to first take an image of the cursor (if there is more than just a hairline like with the 2/83) so you know how to put it back on. Then remove the screws that hold it together. It should come apart easily. Make sure you look for and retain the little leaf springs that tension the cursor on the stators of the body. Then remove the slide and wash everything in warm sudsy water and rinse/dry. Then put it back together. Replace the slide and lubricate with a small amount of vasoline or lithium grease (small amount is the key here). Then work the slide to distribute the lubricant. Let me know if you have questions and I’ll make a video on maintaining and adjusting a slide rule
Note with the lubricant. I ruined (well cosmetically at least) one of my favorite slides using silicon spray. The carrier of the silicone was petroleum based and made the ink run. Remove any excess in any event
@@sliderulesandmathematics9232 I'd like to vote for a video on maintaining and adjusting a slide rule. I just received my Pickett N-500-ES that I bought off of eBay. It's in great shape but I had to do a slight adjustment to align the scales and also to loosen up the slide for smoother operation. Since most of us will be buying used slide rules in varying states, a video going through how to properly clean and adjust them would be very helpful. Thanks again for some great content; I've been working through the test questions and thoroughly them.
I would go with the 0968 because it feels better in my hand and has a p scale. The Pickett is easier to solve triangles with but the 0968 is better with combined equations using squares, cubes and roots. PS that 7 foot slide rule demonstrator behind me is an n-500
I had a neighbor growing up, a retired electrical engineer. He tried to teach me how to use a slide rule and I learned the very basics. He was a brilliant guy and I wish I took more advantage of his tutelage. I remember that he usually used a 10" rule but for precise calculations he had a much larger one, at least 20", that he kept in a beautiful, custom made wooden case. When he took that down from the shelf, you knew he meant business. I stumbled across your channel today and it inspired me to buy one and see if I can re-learn after about a 45 year lapse. There is something special about the connectedness to the numbers that a slide rule affords and I'm looking forward to working my way through your videos. Cheers!
I absolutely agree
The Deci-Lon model 68-1100 made by Keuffel & Esser is an excellent ten inch slide rule with 26 scales. It came with a hard leather sheath with detachable belt loop and a hardcover instruction manual. The Deci-Lon slide rule set was priced at $25 back in 1962.
I’ll have to check. I think that is what my father used. My daily driver is an N-3 by Pickett but I have a couple of 20 inches and a 2/83 for the desk
Great to see you bringing out new slide rule videos 😄
Your Faber Castell 2/83 N is a real beauty. I got a "normal" 2/83 for a reasonable price, but clearly a notch below the 2/83 N.
Thanks, I have a number of them in my collection. My 'daily driver' is a Pickett N-3. That is the one I recommend- nearly as capable as the 2/83 but 1/5 the cost.
Of the handful of rules that I have, the best one in terms of quality per price has been my Post Versalog. It has a great selection of scales, it's readable, and you can't beat the action on a bamboo rule. Plus they usually come with one of those old belt sheaths, so you can wear them in public to ensure you are never in danger of getting a single date. They're usually only 30 or so bucks.
I don’t have any but I’ll pick one up on your recommendation
I wanted to recommend a book I just bought that others watching this channel might appreciate. "A Manual of the Slide Rule: Its History, Principle, and Operation" by J.E. Thompson. It's a reprint of a book published in 1930 and available at Amazon. Lots of great information. I was particularly interested in the tables of conversions and settings for common problems. It gives a quick view into what is possible with a slide rule.
I'm assuming that engineers had standard references with these settings and conversions available. If anyone can recommend a source, I'd really enjoy trying to track one down.
Thanks!
What is a Pickett Model N-500-T?
That is a particular model of slide rule. Other example include my Pickett n-3 and aristo studio 0968
The “T” means the base cooler is ivory or ‘tan’ as opposed to “ES” for ‘eye saver’ yellow. I prefer the ‘T’ color
I have two lovely slide rules, a British Thornton P221 & a Faber Castell 2/83 N. What i would like to ask is what is the best way to clean and maintain the slide rule?
Great question! Assuming you are happy with the action (ie slide has just the right amount of tension you like) it is quite easy to first take an image of the cursor (if there is more than just a hairline like with the 2/83) so you know how to put it back on. Then remove the screws that hold it together. It should come apart easily. Make sure you look for and retain the little leaf springs that tension the cursor on the stators of the body. Then remove the slide and wash everything in warm sudsy water and rinse/dry. Then put it back together. Replace the slide and lubricate with a small amount of vasoline or lithium grease (small amount is the key here). Then work the slide to distribute the lubricant.
Let me know if you have questions and I’ll make a video on maintaining and adjusting a slide rule
Note with the lubricant. I ruined (well cosmetically at least) one of my favorite slides using silicon spray. The carrier of the silicone was petroleum based and made the ink run. Remove any excess in any event
@@sliderulesandmathematics9232 I'd like to vote for a video on maintaining and adjusting a slide rule. I just received my Pickett N-500-ES that I bought off of eBay. It's in great shape but I had to do a slight adjustment to align the scales and also to loosen up the slide for smoother operation. Since most of us will be buying used slide rules in varying states, a video going through how to properly clean and adjust them would be very helpful. Thanks again for some great content; I've been working through the test questions and thoroughly them.
@@GeorgeKlucsarits we can do that
Is anybody still making sliderules?
There is one I’ve heard but there are millions available on eBay. A aristo studio 0968 is about $25 and a Pickett n3 is 60 or less
@@sliderulesandmathematics9232 Thanks, What about the Pickett N-500 ($30) vs Aristo Studio 0968.?
I would go with the 0968 because it feels better in my hand and has a p scale. The Pickett is easier to solve triangles with but the 0968 is better with combined equations using squares, cubes and roots. PS that 7 foot slide rule demonstrator behind me is an n-500
I think they only make circular rules, but Concise still makes them new. The Concise 300 is a pretty good circular model that can fit in your pocket.
How is made the scales grabures, the question of millions peples, greeting form atgentina, i have a 50 cm nestler slide rule...
Cool I have a couple of the big ones (20 inch) as well. I’m not sure I understand your question. Can you rephrase
@@sliderulesandmathematics9232 I think it is how are they made - my question too!