Slide Rules for Engineering Students - NIU Freshman

[bunburryist]

My son is in his Freshman year at NIU to studying engineering and said he would like a slide rule for his birthday. Is there a particular brand or model, or are there particular features that would be most relevant to his field? I know few people actually use them any more, but knowing my son - he might! Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Bob S]

My favorite was K&E:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keuffel_and_Esser
I had (still have) a log log duplex decitrig
http://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/KECatalogs/1955b/1955bkecatp278.htm

Bob S

 

[mgb_phys]

Bob, is there anywhere to buy slide rules ?
Without trawling junk stores for antique ones, or the paper toys from the discovery store

 

[FredGarvin]

E-Bay is a great place and there is also a really nice guy in BC that I have bought a couple from. I highly recommend him:

http://sphere.bc.ca/test/sruniverse.html

Just make sure you educate yourself before buying if you go to e-bay. Just remember there are a lot of different kinds of slide rules that cover a lot of different areas of interest.

In the US the most prevalent brand was Pickett. You can get brand new ones that look really nice or go with a used one. They made some really nice metal ones.

I give BobG about a nano-second before he comes in here and gives you a full report.