Anyone ever use a slide rule ?

[SBS]

A little late (takes awhile to find stuff these days), but here's another specialized slide rule. Used to size objects on U2 photographs before we had calculators.

 

[SEGARE]

My BIL is a 1968 chemical engineering graduate from Georgia Tech. He can still use his slide rule even though he's been attorney for 45 years.

 

[DocCarbon]

Had to do some digging to find these ,some where in the Drawer or flight bag is My E6B .
Found ALL My Staedtler Mars shapes dividers and such . Oh the Pre CAD days .

 

[johnjohn]

I learned around 1967 but don't remember any of it.

 

[SweaterDood]

I've still got a couple sticks, and a circular one I got in high school physics class. I still use the circular one to calculate bicycle gear and gain ratios (thank you, Sheldon Brown). Got a HP21 as a graduation present.

The late, great Sheldon Brown. Didn’t think I’d see him referenced on this site...

I firmly believe that the entirety of mechanics can be explained using a bicycle or a firearm as an example.

And I do own a slide rule, but I never fully learned how to use it. My grandfather would pull it out of the drawer in his garage when building boats. RC and real ones. He would use it for hull design as well as the radio equipment. He was an engineer in marine electronics design for various companies. Made boats as a full time hobby, and to test prototypes.

It’s wild to think that the calculator on a modern cell phone has all the power that anyone would need...

 

[No.343]

My dad had one. I remember him trying to explain to me what it was. He didn't get very far. I didn't get very far either when I tried to explain to him the graphing capabilities of my HP48.

 

[Timberyote]

I learned how to use a slip stick in 1964 at the lab I was working at.

I bought a 12" model and a compact 6" pocket model, both Arista and I still have them.

 

[M14AMU]

We went to the moon using the SR and there ain’t one a sshole on here can use it correctly!!

 

[akajun]

Was using my slide rule in college, then the HP-35 became available and replaced it.

View attachment 1344116

It sure beats this :
View attachment 1344117

My dad still has this calculator
He can’t bear to throw it out he paid too much for it even though it just sits in a drawer and his phone does everything and more

 

[fx77]

Started college in 1963 with this beauty - Dietzgen Microglide Vector Log-Log as required for EE at Indiana Institute of Technology. Two degrees and years later, then at Purdue University, I used an HP scientific calculator. Downside: couldn't use the proverbial "slide rule inaccuracy" excuse for a bad answer in a test.

View attachment 1344959

Alex
(Yes, that is the original, almost 60 years old.)

I had that guy too

 

[Walt Schmidlin]

Well if you used a slide rule and understood the power of 10s you knew that the answer would be, for example around 20 and NOT 2,000 or vice versa. With a calculator you’re not sure so you renter all the number and see if it produces the same number

 

[jelenko]

Well if you used a slide rule and understood the power of 10s you knew that the answer would be, for example around 20 and NOT 2,000 or vice versa. With a calculator you’re not sure so you renter all the number and see if it produces the same number

Absolutely right!

 

[perry42]

Used slide rules up to 24" in length from 1960 til I got an HP. Still have a circular one issued to me in the Navy when I flew in Julie and Jez equipped P2V's. The larger slide rules made it easier to refine accurate numbers.

perry42

 

[Bocephus]

That 1st HP was $450, the last HP I purchased was less than $90, about 1992. It was programable and could put a man on the moon, I carried it in a pocket, WOW. I carried a small '3 ringed' book with formulas and button sequences for solving different problems, just 'plug in the numbers'. I had many memorable experiences, some very enjoyable, some terrible. I worked on huge construction projects, tunnels, setting machinery, accident investigations and a "sniper" murder investigation. Many opportunities came by, I have a pocket full of memories, not a pocket full of wishes. My vest and belt are hanging in the shop, my boots are greased, pack my lunch and I could be ready for work in 20 minutes. BUT, I'm not going, NO WAY!! Twenty two years of retirement isn't enough. I gonna pick up a new rifle today.

Brings back a few memories. None that I am particularly fond of except maybe not having to take off the brogans and socks to get past “10” in trig class.
But do remember appreciating the genius of the design.