All About Slide Rules Book (PDF)

[rprosperi]

(12-14-2017 12:10 AM)Benjer Wrote:  K&E's wood-based slide rules generally used mahogany, not bamboo. As far as I know there were no American manufacturers of bamboo slide rules. All the ones sold by American companies were imported from overseas. Frederick Post was the most notable of these and their Versalog is highly-regarded. It was imported from Hemmi in Japan. Pickett sold at least one such model called the B-1, imported from Ricoh/Relay in Japan.

Ricoh/Relay imported to possibly dozens of American companies such as Lafayette, Jason, Alvin, Scientific instruments Co, and others.

Mahogany and bamboo feel a little different during operation (and I believe the general consensus is that bamboo is superior) but after so many decades it's really going to depend on the condition of the slide rule you end up with. A mahogany slide rule stored in optimal conditions after several decades will feel much better than a poorly-treated bamboo model.

I stand corrected, I've thought they were bamboo for 40+ years. I also had a Hemmi rule, so that could be why. Thanks for explaining.

(12-14-2017 12:10 AM)Benjer Wrote:  This could be extended to plastic and metal models as well.

I bought a Pickett aluminum rule in high school (with about 30 scales), thinking they would be the best of all, but I've never liked the feel of metal rules.

I don't like most plastic rules, but I do like my Faber Castell Duplex 2/82. I'd even pay good money just for the plastic case it came in. Wasn't cheap though.

(12-14-2017 12:10 AM)Benjer Wrote:  ...Dietzgen made models similar in appearance and construction to K&E and some of them have all-metal cursors which are well-regarded. Some Dietzgen models also contained teflon inserts on the slides and of all the slide rules I've handled these are smoothest-running ones I've come across. The previously-mentioned Versalog and models made by Hemmi also look similar but use bamboo and generally cost more on auction sites.

Broken cursors are the bane of all old rules, especially K&E. Be sure to closely check the photos (and/or ask questions) to be sure the cursors aren't cracked or even broken (I'd say > half are). All metal cursors with Teflon inserts would be lovely. Now I have to go look at Dietzgen rules...