It doesn't do multiplications like other slide rules but you can use it to calculate what time it is and where you are amongst other things, which I think compensates.
Probably a Pickett N600-ES. I feel like it’s the most bang for buck size-wise. I really like the Concise / Sama & Etani slide rules with the reference tables too. I have several of those stashed around in case I need to reference a formula or periodic table
I didn't really think about the Concise circular rules. I have a CTCS-552. The reference tables are a handy feature!
The Pickett 600 is a solid choice! I have an older magnesium 600. It's a great rule, but that's a lot of scales to cram onto such a small rule. I find it a little hard to read. Not really any worse than the 700, though.
Part of the appeal is the space factor too. That photo of Aldrin with his pipe and slide rule on Gemeni is one of my favorite pictures even though it’s sadly underexposed
I think that one is a 1006 rather than a 600. I have attached a comparison picture, with an N600, an N1006, and Aldrin's slide rule with its contrast turned up a bit.
It looks like we are looking at the side without the logo, and it looks like the near end of the slide has "Pickett All Metal Slide Rules", which the 600 does not have. And the slide looks like it has CF, CIF, CI, and C scales, and the bottom rail has D and L.
I'm not saying Aldrin didn't take a 600 to the moon. I just don't think that's a 600 in the Gemini XII picture. What do you think?
Image Credits: NASA and International Slide Rule Museum. I used the ISRM pictures because they are clearer than my pictures of my own 600 and 1006.
I visited my dad’s house and there was a braille slide rule there that I took a photo of. I have no idea if the photo was right side up or not, so I feel like part of the problem.
No, in essence it is a logarithmic scale. They put it around a circle because it represents the significant part of a number when you write it in scientific notation. This is a number from 1 to 10, and when the value exceeds 10, it wraps back around to 1. (for instance 12 is 1.2 x 10)
Yeah, like a "standard" circular slide rule, but the scale is 10^(n/10), right? I'm still having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around it, but it's a real interesting idea!
I haven't had a chance to read that in detail yet, but just skimming the first part is interesting. I'll come back to that when I can spend some more time and brain cells on it. Thanks!
I have a followup to this. I just got an Aristo 868 Studio. I hadn't noticed until it arrived, but its CURSOR is upside down! You can see it in the attached picture: The word "Aristo" on the cursor is upside-down.
Also, the screw heads were all gummed up with dirt etc, so it has been that way for quite a while. I cleaned it up a bit before I took the picture. So I don't think I can blame the seller in this case.
It wouldn't matter at all on a Pickett rule, but Aristo adds the extra hairlines for kW and HP, so turning it over puts the extra hairlines over the wrong scales.
I just thought it was funny. It's not a big deal, since I'm going to remove the cursor to clean it anyhow.
This was the first rule I "collected", and it's still one of my favorites! I like the Aerial Photo scales, and I like all of the "standard" scales on the other side. The addition of the DI and folded scales make this a pretty handy rule. I'm also a fan of the mid-1950's Pickett pocket rule construction and design.
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