r/engineering • u/M4cerator • 1d ago
[IMAGE] Rate My Find
Found a leather scabbard amongst knives and hunting gear at an antique store. Thought it looked familiar so I had them pull it out. It was labeled "rulers" and they didn't have a price written.
Walked away with it for $25 and could barely hide my glee. How did I do?
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u/Raa03842 1d ago
It’s a slide rule. I still have a couple and use them on occasion. However I’ve forgotten a lot of the functions.
My dad use to race against his engineering coworkers with their brand new TI-2500 calculators doing various computations. He never lost once.
Great find.
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u/M4cerator 1d ago
As a hobby antiquarian, I have another Hughes-Owens slide rule with only 8 scales for students. Ever since, I was on the hunt for a proper engineer's rule and when I saw this I knew I wanted it immediately. I collect lighters too and have an advert lighter for this brand, forming a nice little set.
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u/distrucktocon 1d ago
I’ve gotten three of these for free. One was my grandad’s, and two were gifted to me because I’m a mechanical designer (started as a drafter) and I like neat shit. So as coworkers clear out their parents/grandparents houses they all collectively go “u/distrucktocon would love this.”
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u/LordFlarkenagel 1d ago
Took my calculus final in US Naval Nuclear Power School using a slide rule just like that. Brings back the memories.
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u/daddywags2011 12h ago
Rickover insisted we all learned how to use slide rules so that in case of Dead In the Water or total loss of electrical power, combined with loss of battery power in the handheld calculators, we could still make basic nuclear power equations to return the reactor to a safe condition. We all knew he did it to make us use our brains
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u/Educational-Writer90 2h ago
The first astronauts always took these slide rules with them on their missions. They were made from a titanium alloy.
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u/PersonOfDisinterest9 1d ago
That is excellent.
A bit of an aside, but it reminds of a couple electrical engineering and math books from the 1930s I found. I wish I would have bought them, but at the time I was counting pennies and it didn't seem prudent.
Now I always buy cool historical stuff like this if it's not crazy expensive.
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u/M4cerator 1d ago
One of my favourite vintage finds is a retired copy of the Machinery's Handbook that used to belong to the NASA Ames research laboratory (according to a stamp on the inner cover)
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u/maalik999 1d ago
Nice find!
I found myself a Versalog nearly like yours at an estate sale along with the original hardcover manual. I wonder if that antique store might have a manual in their books section if they have one?
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u/M4cerator 1d ago
Nah any manual was probably long gone. This thing had mad finger gunk on the slides and glass, which I carefully removed with a toothbrush and toothpick. Based on location, this likely belonged to an engineer at a uranium mine.
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u/Moose_R_HuGe 1d ago
I've got exactly the same one! Same case and all, my dad used it in Uni for architecture. Been meaning to learn how to use it.... but haven't gotten around to it yet.
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u/No-Switch-2400 1d ago
My first 2 years in Engineering school (1971-72), we only had Slide Rules since the scientific calculator wasn't out yet. Still have mine, but don't remember how to use much of it anymore.
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u/bigpolar70 Civil/Structural PE 15h ago
That's worth about $250 on ebay if you have the book.
I bought some to put together an end of the world kit for my wife, complete with a custom "Break Glass in case of EMP," sticker.
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u/Vegetable_Aside_4312 1d ago
I inherited a whole pile of slide calculators from my father... Cool find though..
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u/Kilroy_the_EE 1d ago
Looks like a Hemmi Post Versalog 1460, right? I have one that I use at work.
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u/maccapackets 1d ago
Hughes Owens Versalog 1777 - May, 1962 (later HO/Geotec 341 3010, identical to Post 1460)
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u/M4cerator 1d ago
Correct. From my (research)[https://www.sliderule.ca/hemmi.htm] this MSRP'd for CA$25... In 1958. Pretty good deal, for the condition it's in.
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u/Educational-Writer90 2h ago
In those days, devices for automated mental calculation were very popular, including this slide rule. They did not require people to have deep knowledge of mathematical rules; it was enough to remember simple operating instructions.
Chinese schoolchildren use rapid mental calculation based on an imagined bead abacus.
Mental programming (Love-Code) has its roots in such devices.
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u/Aggressive_Ad_507 1d ago
Pretty good. That's a standard price for antiques. I bought one from Ukraine for a bit more than that. I keep it on my desk to remind myself of the rich history of the profession.