closing tag is in template navbar
timefactors watches



TZ-UK Fundraiser
Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: Slide rule rescue assistance sought

  1. #1
    Master petethegeek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Worcestershire
    Posts
    2,922

    Slide rule rescue assistance sought

    A recent house move brought to light an old pocket slide rule my dad used to have. It's only around six inches long and about as much practical use as the bezels on some 'pilot' watches. However I would dearly like to keep it on my desk as both a memento and a conversation piece.



    Unfortunately though, the small sprung metal piece which holds the sliding cursor in place has gone astray at some point. Does anyone have any idea where I can source a replacement, or suggestions as to an alternative way to keep the cursor firmly in place but still movable?

  2. #2
    You can likely make it yourself with some scrap spring steel and a pair (or two) of pliers. May even be able to get away with some springy plastic.

  3. #3
    Grand Master jwg663's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    21.5 km From Moscow
    Posts
    16,881
    There's a complete one you could cannibalise for the slide/spring for sale on eBay, starting at £3.99. It's in Harrogate. Pouch & instructions, too.

    ARISTO RIETZ NR. 89
    ______

    ​Jim.

  4. #4
    Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    M62 corridor
    Posts
    4,711
    Wonderful piece of family memorabilia.

    Try explaining it to a teenager!

    Think this was the one I had at school:

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284477223992

  5. #5
    Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    NW Leics
    Posts
    8,153
    Lovely things. I still have mine somewhere, it was inexpensive and mostly plastic. My dad had one that was made of some sort of white-lacquered bamboo with a glass lens. I wonder what happened to that?

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by David_D View Post
    Wonderful piece of family memorabilia.

    Try explaining it to a teenager!

    Think this was the one I had at school:

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284477223992
    I've still got mine.

  7. #7
    Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    North Wales
    Posts
    4,071
    Just found two of my late father in laws slide rules this week.

    Now my dad had at Otis King, now that was a clever bit of kit. A bit like a tubular slide rule. I used it as a puffer to blow over small toys….phillistine


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_King


    Steve

  8. #8
    Grand Master Dave+63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    15,909
    Quote Originally Posted by David_D View Post
    Wonderful piece of family memorabilia.

    Try explaining it to a teenager!

    Think this was the one I had at school:

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284477223992
    Try explaining it to a fifty seven year old!

    My dad had one too and I never figured out how to do anything but the basics. Fortunately the electronic calculator became affordable whilst I was still at school.

  9. #9
    Master petethegeek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Worcestershire
    Posts
    2,922
    Quote Originally Posted by hughtrimble View Post
    You can likely make it yourself with some scrap spring steel and a pair (or two) of pliers.
    You clearly haven't seen my metal working skillz in action.

    Quote Originally Posted by jwg663 View Post
    There's a complete one you could cannibalise for the slide/spring for sale on eBay, starting at £3.99. ARISTO RIETZ NR. 89
    Thanks Jim. It never occurred to me to look on there. That's certainly an option to consider. It does however raise the Trigger's new broom dilemma as the slides look to be a slightly different design and I'd be tempted to swap them over at the same time.

    Quote Originally Posted by David_D View Post
    Think this was the one I had at school:

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284477223992
    I seem to recall that they were one of the few (only) ones approved by the examining boards for use in GCSE exams.

  10. #10
    Grand Master Rod's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Co. Durham
    Posts
    10,239
    Designed by a B&O engineer after looking at his side rule... great piece of kit.
    https://beocentral.com/beomaster1200

  11. #11
    Grand Master Mr Curta's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Mainly UK
    Posts
    17,281
    I think that your best bet is the transplant of the essential part from a donor if you can resist the temptation to swap over more than necessary. There's usually a bucket of battered old slide rules in TNMOC shop at a tenner a pop, I can have a shufti next time but I'll be surprised if there's an Aristo amongst them. Alternatively just slap an elastic band around the cursor to keep it in place.

    I covet a Fuller's cylindrical calculator, the equivalent of a straight slide rule 83 feet 4 inches long.

    Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH

  12. #12
    Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    M62 corridor
    Posts
    4,711
    Quote Originally Posted by Dave+63 View Post
    Try explaining it to a fifty seven year old!
    Would but I can’t remember!!

  13. #13
    Grand Master oldoakknives's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    20,041
    Blog Entries
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by David_D View Post
    Wonderful piece of family memorabilia.

    Try explaining it to a teenager!

    Think this was the one I had at school:

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284477223992
    Me too. It's in the loft.
    Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.

  14. #14
    Grand Master Griswold's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Yorkshire, England
    Posts
    20,093
    I still have my Faber Castell slide rule which was presented to me back in 1965 at Kitson College of Engineering and Science for being the 'most promising student in my year'. A great honour, sadly, things went downhill from there It sits in the drawer of my desk along with my fountain pens all of which still get used. Lynn tells me that when I was borne the Luddites broke the mould!
    Best Regards - Peter

    I'd hate to be with you when you're on your own.

  15. #15
    Master Yorkshiremadmick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Yorkshire man in Northumberland
    Posts
    2,583
    Quote Originally Posted by Griswold View Post
    I still have my Faber Castell slide rule which was presented to me back in 1965 at Kitson College of Engineering and Science for being the 'most promising student in my year'. A great honour, sadly, things went downhill from there It sits in the drawer of my desk along with my fountain pens all of which still get used. Lynn tells me that when I was borne the Luddites broke the mould!
    I too have Fabre Castell a 6” one in a leather pouch, plus a 12” one in a plastic container that splits in the middle. Did A level maths and structural engineering In the early 70’s using them. We called them guessing sticks.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  16. #16
    Master Templogin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Shetland
    Posts
    2,722
    I have always fancied a circular slide rule but the commonly available Russian ones are too small. I still have my school slide rule on my desk at work.

  17. #17
    Grand Master Mr Curta's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Mainly UK
    Posts
    17,281
    Quote Originally Posted by Templogin View Post
    I have always fancied a circular slide rule but the commonly available Russian ones are too small. I still have my school slide rule on my desk at work.
    Fowler's Long Scale "Magnum" in the bottom right of this image is a whopping 120mm diameter, the Universal on the left is a more pocket sized 87mm. Top right is a standard Long Scale.

    The nicest circular slide rule by far is the Halden Calculex, top and bottom centre. Nice examples turn up for about £80 if you bide your time.

    Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH

  18. #18
    Master Templogin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Shetland
    Posts
    2,722
    The Universal would certainly suit. Thanks for the image.

  19. #19
    Grand Master Saint-Just's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Ashford, Kent
    Posts
    28,934
    I still have mine (Graphoplex) somewhere too. But a friend had a circular one unlike any of the above. It was probably around 12 cm but it was in a square, with dented wheels in the corners to turn the scales and move the cursor.
    'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Do Not Sell My Personal Information