deuces wild Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Do you remember how to use one of these? http://www.taswegian.com/SRTP/JavaSlide/JavaSlide.html I don't. :rolleyes: :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Still got mine :) Both the standard one and also a circular one that slips in your pocket (both from 1966) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 No, I don't either. Though I used to use one.Thos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Yup still got mine, inc a 3 in dia. The one that got most use had 6 decades on the exponent scale. Used to use it one heck of a lot. Got thoroughly spoilt when forced to use a mechanical calculator. Didn't get on with the little Cambridge calculators - too dumb. Memories.Edit and I'll be 69 in April - leaving these 45 yr old children well behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Very clever devices. I still have one of the old fashioned ones with a "rivetted on" clear celluloid cover, "protecting" very faded printed paper scales, and also a later engraved plastic (mid 50s) one. I have, in addition, a CURTA rotary pocket calculator from the mid 50s, though you need a fairly big pocket. Does anyone remember these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Still got mine, and, still pull it out of the desk draw occasionally to work a few things out. Mine is laid out slightly different to that one on Deuces link. The function letters down the left side are S K A B C1 C D L T . I can't remember the make of the thing as I have lost the original instruction sheet years ago that came with it. It's still has it's original plastic protective sleeve though. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 Do you remember how to use one of these? http://www.taswegian.com/SRTP/JavaSlide/JavaSlide.html I don't. :rolleyes: :DI don't. But if I remember correctly, it was easier than http://www.abacus.ca/abacus-images.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 I remember it well, very expensive too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 No, I don't either. Though I used to use one.Ditto. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 I had a Thornton slide rule complete with a faux snake skin case. I got quite adept with it but the thing I never liked was its analogue readings where every answer had to be "about" rather than a precise figure.I don't have a clue now as to how to use one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 This topic has made me realise that I have never heard of anyone using logarithms for years. Do they still teach the topic in school, or has this been replaced by social studies?Just out of interest here is a picture of my CURTA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 This topic has made me realise that I have never heard of anyone using logarithms for years. Do they still teach the topic in school, or has this been replaced by social studies?Not social studies - sex education classes teach them how to multiply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 I have, in addition, a CURTA rotary pocket calculator from the mid 50s, though you need a fairly big pocket. Does anyone remember these?Yes, I remember those mechanical calculators and wasn't it a blessing when the first electronics came out. There were calculating "pools" in offices as the machines were so expensive.They were called comptometers, I think, and had special operators.Thos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 I really enjoyed using the CURTA calculator. Marvellous piece of engineering. You could knock out regression equations and co-efficients at the drop of a hat. Mind one could develope an early form of Rubic's Cube finger/wrist strain after a while! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belatucadrus Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 I think I was in the last year where sliderules were included as part of the school maths sylabus and we've still got four of them. Three of them, including a round Concise one were my dads and my British Thornton. None have been exactly overused in the past ten fifteen years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 I really enjoyed using the CURTA calculator. Marvellous piece of engineering. You could knock out regression equations and co-efficients at the drop of a hat. Mind one could develope an early form of Rubic's Cube finger/wrist strain after a while!There was another make around at the time called FACIT, which worked on the same principle as the CURTA. They were a similar mechanism but much bigger and laid horizontally, with a "keyboard" for entering the number to be manipulated, and the rotating handle sticking out from the right hand side of the block. They were fun and gave less RSI (though at the time no one knew what that was!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 We still have an original FACIT at work - fully working with its original wooden case. The trouble is only 2 of us know how to work it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 We still have an original FACIT at work - fully working with its original wooden case. The trouble is only 2 of us know how to work it !They are a beautifully made piece of kit, are they not? The precision of the engineering must be superb. They used to have a couple of them at one of our companies factories in the 60s, and they took some hammer over the years I knew them, and yet they worked so silkily smooth. No where near as "notchy" as my CURTA. Wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted February 2, 2006 Report Share Posted February 2, 2006 Have a reminisce ?http://www.xnumber.com/xnumber/cmisc_facit_page.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted February 3, 2006 Report Share Posted February 3, 2006 Have a reminisce ?http://www.xnumber.com/xnumber/cmisc_facit_page.htmThanks for that Boris. The one I remember using at our other factory was the TK. Some of the other later ones look quite "space age"! One of the nice things about this sort of technology must be the fact that the OS does not need updating every time Bill Gates farts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted February 3, 2006 Report Share Posted February 3, 2006 I checked more closely today and this is actually what our machine is .............. a Guy's Britannic :0 :-http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/guy...g_machines.htmlA model 2A/2349 and it's almost mint compared to the one shown in the example.It even has the original operating instructions tucked away in the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted February 3, 2006 Report Share Posted February 3, 2006 I checked more closely today and this is actually what our machine is .............. a Guy's Britannic :0 :-http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/guy...g_machines.htmlA model 2A/2349 and it's almost mint compared to the one shown in the example.It even has the original operating instructions tucked away in the case.What a pretty thing. It looks as though it should be driven by a small flat belt from a miniature overhead lineshaft. What was the name of that man who made the first calculating engine for the Tote? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r4may Posted February 4, 2006 Report Share Posted February 4, 2006 I've still got my slide rule from when I went to school many moons ago !! :0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.