Auction find

[Tony in SD]

In a box of stuff I bid on was this 1959 Pickett slide rule and case. I cleaned it up & calibrated it. Checked a few functions, sin cos log etc. Works as it should. Coincidentally the last time we went to the moon, a slide rule was used more than once to get us there and back.

Anybody else still remember how to use one?

 

[560Dennis]

Got Pickett in my tool box.

 

[rrlund]

My brother knew. He bought an excavating business from the guy he worked for. The old guy did all of his calculating for yards of dirt using one. He taught my brother.

 

[Tom from Buckeye Lake]

I had two of them, Grandsons didn't have a clue (College) what they were. They now have them

 

[Tony in SD]

I had two of them, Grandsons didn't have a clue (College) what they were. They now have them

I'm going to give my much more elaborate engineering slide rule to my son that is a college science professor. He understands how they work but I'm not sure he would be as confident in the answers as I am.

 

[kencombs]

Last used one my senior year in HS, a l o n g time ago. 66 years! And, no I don't remember how to work one.

I have one somewhere, probably with my drawing board, triangles etc.

 

[trackrat]

I have one no clue how to use it also have an abacus my father found on an island in the pacific during WW2 it was buried in the mud lost by a Japanese soldier

 

[NDIHC]

Not the slightest clue how to use one. I doubt my high school math teacher even knew!

 

[Oregon Tractor Jack]

Used to know. I did use them in high school in the 60's. A slide rule hanging from your belt in its pouch and pocket protector full of pens was the ultimate Nerd equipment.

OTJ

 

[Bob Bancroft]

In a box of stuff I bid on was this 1959 Pickett slide rule and case. I cleaned it up & calibrated it. Checked a few functions, sin cos log etc. Works as it should. Coincidentally the last time we went to the moon, a slide rule was used more than once to get us there and back.

Anybody else still remember how to use one?

View attachment 148254

I never learned how. I excelled at math until my senior year of high school, when they tried to teach us calculus. Then I had empathy for my fellow students who frequently had that lost look on their faces!

 

[Tony in SD]

Used to know. I did use them in high school in the 60's. A slide rule hanging from your belt in its pouch and pocket protector full of pens was the ultimate Nerd equipment.

OTJ

BTDT LOL

 

[rustred]

i remember them slide rules is school, but i hated math so i dont know how they are used.

 

[Bandit2026]

I had one that I used to figure cement yards. Before modern electronics. Used it by inserting length, width, Thickness = yards.

 

[stoughtonfarmboy]

As with many replies, I used one in high school. Just for math problems not resl work. Graduated in 1967, so it has been a long time.

Ken

 

[Keith True]

I never had a class in school where I needed one.The kids in the calculus classes had them,but when they went to other classes they were not allowed in them.I have some of the concrete calculaters.The guys on the trucks would give them to you.They work great for me.Other folks can just touch their phones and get all that info.

 

[Rich'sToys]

You mentioned calibrating it. I didn't know they needed to be calibrated. What does that involve?

 

[rustred]

I did not know they go out of calibration either, as it’s a manual thing.

 

[JF in MI]

I did not know they go out of calibration either, as it’s a manual thing.

Had one in engineering school back in '69. Was on my way to a class for a test when I dropped it. Didn't think much about it until during the test it said 2 x 2 =4.2.

 

[RCP]

I had one my freshman year of college, then people started to bring HP calculators to class, I had to get a calculator to keep up on the tests.

 

[sms]

I used them, still can do some basics but would have to spend some time refreshing other functions.