From: "Peter Trei" <trei@process.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 07:59:24 -0800 (PST)
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: Sliderules, Logs, and Prodigies
Message-ID: <199611041559.HAA22642@toad.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



> At 10:30 AM 11/1/96 -0800, Timothy C. May wrote:
> 
> >Sliderules were just becoming common when I was in high school....

When I was in high school, slide rules and log tables were standard
equipment - calculators started to come in towards the end. There
was a *lot* of controversy over their use in exams, and in homework
('show your working...'). At one point, you could use a calculator, but
only if you noted the fact (and model) on your exam paper.

I had a couple of nice 12-inch plastic slide rules - the better one, with
about 20 scales and double sides was stolen while I was in college.

I still treasure one of the heirlooms from my grandfather - a 12
inch bamboo rule, with his name carefully engraved in engineering
lettering ( which he used during his 50+ years at Ma Bell).

Not long ago I visited the MIT Museum, and in the shop found for
sale 'new' (circa 1975) plastic slide rules, both straight and circular.
I got one of each for old time's sake, and am thinking of having one
framed with a 'break glass in case of emergency' sign.

Peter Trei
trei@process.com