HP Forum Archive 09

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

In a parallel universe -- far, far away . . . Message #1 Posted by Paul Brogger on 11 Dec 2002, 11:04 a.m. I was fooling with my old slide rule yesterday, pondering its many scales and fine craftmanship when it struck me: In some quirky land and time, where/when binary mechanical computing had been developed to a fine art, but the development of pocket calculators was all but precluded by limited knowlege of electronics, one might find a slide rule with an "H" scale for hexadecimal conversions . . . . . . and I want one!

Re: In a parallel universe -- far, far away . . . Message #2 Posted by Masao Kinoshita on 11 Dec 2002, 12:13 p.m., in response to message #1 by Paul Brogger In a galaxy -- far, far away… K+E also had a symbolic slide rule called the Analon. It would figure out equations. I had one, but gave it to Paul Ceruzzi, of the Smithsonian Institution, years ago (to match his Duplex Decitrig Log Log).

Re: In a parallel universe -- far, far away . . . Message #3 Posted by John Mosand on 11 Dec 2002, 3:35 p.m., in response to message #2 by Masao Kinoshita The Analon slide rule wouldn't solve regular numeric equations, however. It was made to demonstrate relationships in physics, like resistance*charge/induction=current (with symbols). Quite useless in practical terms :-) Otherwise, slide rules can be remarkably versatile. The most advanced ones had things like eight LogLog scales, incl. negatives - hyperbolic trig scales - scales for special purposes, being a kind of 'programs', e.g. 1-cos, sincos, cos^2 and 1/tan(a/2) for surveying - etc. etc. Some of these features are actually faster and easier to use than a calculator. And some operators still use slide rules, especially in the open field.

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Go back to the main exhibit hall