Slides Rule.... The good old slip stick

San Francisco Weekly ^ | July 2, 2003 | SILKE TUDOR

[quietolong]

I feel the one of the reasons for the decline in math. Is the ending of teaching and use of slide rules in our schools.

The use of a slide rule give a “ feel “ of the numbers. You had to keep track of your numbers. And if you came out with an answer that seemed way out of the ball park. You went back and checked your work. With today’s kids and calculator. It’s Garbage In Garbage Out. “ It must be right that’s what the display says.” Who cares if 2+2= -32.49834098493

One other skill the use of a slide rule teaches is Interpolate. Estimating the value between the marks. A skill that comes in handy in a number of different areas.

I still like to use a slide rule for doing some problems. It gives you a range of answers at a time. And is faster and easier than pushing buttons. And as a pilot the old circular in still better and faster to use.

Back in the old days slide rules put a man on the moon, landed on Mars. Today’s wizz kids with supercomputers, laptops and calculators. Missed Mars.

Kids today when I show them what a slide rule is. Are just amazed that by sliding a bar. I can come up with the answers.

Now before you think I’m just old fashion. Back in 73 I was one of the first kids in school with a handheld calculator. A TI model. But still took the old slip stick to class ( never on a belt I wasn’t that nerdey) And I would race the other kids with calculators. And I would beat them every time ( you can slide the slide faster that you can push buttons ) And one more thing My first Slide Rule which was handed down to me by my dad. Still works. And I have handed it down to my kids. My first calculator craped out years ago.

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[John Beresford Tipton]

Ah, my old Keuffel and Esser Log-Log Duplex Deci-trig

[Fiddlstix]

Ahhh... The good 'ol "slipstick"
My first one was made by the old Post slide rule co. If memory serves, it was made of bamboo
(I don't recall what I paid for it, but it wasn't too much)

[John Beresford Tipton]

I think I paid about $19 in 1960.

[wideminded]

I also used a slide rule at the beginning of high school and then complemented that with a calculator as they began to come in. Today my son laughs at the notion that anyone ever used something so simple and antiquated as some sliding sticks to do calculations.

[ThePythonicCow]

Yeah - My K&E Mahogany is still a prized possession, even if I can no longer multiply 2x2 on it.

[Capt_Hank]

I still have my old K&E from back in the 60's. Remember, it's the C and D scales for multiplication and division. I remember giving a demo to some summer interns before I retired. That had heard of a slide rule, but for the first time, they had a chance to see it being used. They were impressed. Getting that decimal point right is still a killer.

[edger]

My old K&E Log Log Duplex Decitrig hung on my belt all through college. I still have it. I also have an assortment of circular sliderules. And an abacus or two. And my first several calculators crapped out long ago.

With the sliderule, answers were always approximate--always. The calculator or computer answer to six decimal places gives the illusion of accuracy that is nonexistent.

With the sliderule, you had to keep track of the decimal place--it was the operators responsibility--and it was good practice. While using the abacus, I found myself doing more and more work in my head.

A good time long gone.

[RLK]

Brings back memories. I have an old bamboo K&E. I had a three foot long slip stick. I had a nine inch diameter circular with a spiral scale ten feet long. For proportions a slide rule is unbeatable.

Today I use TI solar calculators exclusively.

[longtermmemmory]

Do the even make calculators with reverse polish notation anymore?

[Capt_Hank]

Oh yes.... I have a TI that can be programmed for RPN.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Ping-a-ling-a-ding-dong.

[TheOtherOne]

Legend has it that Soviet artillery gunners could put rounds down range into targets the size of 55-gallon drums. Their secret may have been these '60s-vintage, enameled wooden slide rules. Loaded with artillery coordinate formulas, in Russian. Complete with original vinyl case. An exceedingly rare find. 11"x1½". 

[this_ol_patriot]

Calculator freaks, have fun below.

The Museum of HP Calculators

[Othniel]

I remember seeing this bit on some news show years ago about a math competition in Japan. There were hundreds of high schoolers, and when the starting bell rang, they all started moving their fingers like they were using an abacus. Their fingers would fly, they'd write down an answer, then go on to the next problem. Amazing.

[DraftAshcroft2004]

Even the Hewlett-Packard scientific calculators have largely given up on RPN.

[quietolong]

I can still write programs in Forth

[BradyLS]

Today my son laughs at the notion that anyone ever used something so simple and antiquated as some sliding sticks to do calculations.

Recently, I contemplated what might be a good study project for a grad or doctoral student. Basically, it's called "What year do you live in?" It would be a series of forms having questions with multiple choice and fill-in-the blank answers for the subject. For example, one form would ask about your car and what features it had. If a particle set of features were available in, say, 1966, you are still driving in 1966, regardless of the actual year you're living in or the model year of your car.

If, for example, you still use a slide rule to competenlty peform your engineering work, you are working in a period between 1622 and 1975, regardless of the kind of work you do or fancy new tools are available to you.

Most people use ball point pens to write with. Or pencils. Has anything fundemental about the fancy ball-point pen set you bought this year change from a mass produced set produced in the 60's?

How about the beer you drink? Is it still made the same way the monks brewed it 200 years ago? Or the corporation made it 50 years ago? Which is better?

I think such a study would provide some interesting insights in what real technological advancements we've made and which ones have a real impact on our lives.

[Hank Rearden]

Do the even make calculators with reverse polish notation anymore?

Yes, thank God. I hate those damn Equal signs, and have bought only HP calculators since 1973. They're still the best and fastest to use.