Napier's Bones (Rods)
Napier's Bones (Rods)
| Lord John Napier (latinized Nepero), Baron of Merchiston, Edinburgh, Scotland. Published the logarithm in 1614, after 20 years of developing the tables, which made it possible to perform multiplications and divisions by addition and subtraction and was the foundation for all future slide rule designs. Ex: a*b = 10^(log(a)+log(b)) and a/b = 10^(log(a)-log(b)). He created this calculating tool, which is easy to build out of square dowels. |
| This is the predecessor of the modern slide rule. created by Edmund Gunter. A pair of dividers is used to measure a distance (the multiplicand and the multiplier) along the rule and add it to another distance, the multiplicand, forming the combined distance, the product, on the rule. The accuracy of an answer is limited by the length of the rule and the user's ability to resolve a number. |
|
Gunter's Scale - Two Foot
| Gunter's Scale - Two Foot - Circa Early 1800's Made in UK - Made of Boxwood Front Scales: RUM, CHO, SIN, TAN, S*T, SEC, RUM, M*L, CHO, 24 inch and decimal foot, 1/2 inch and 1 inch diagonal scales. Back Scales: S*R, T*R, NUM, SIN, V*S, TAN, MER, E*P. Note: This is the most common Gunter Scale, used for navigation Archive - David M. Riches Collection (UK) |
 Gunter's Scale - One Foot |
Gunter's Scale - One Foot - Circa Early 1800's Made in UK - Made of Boxwood Front Scales: (Left) RUM, CHO, SIN, TAN, S*T, (Center) SEC, (Right) S*R, T*R, NUM, SIN, V*S, TAN, MER, E*P, LEA, RUM, M*L, CHO. Back Scales: 12 inch and decimal foot, 1/2 inch and 1 inch diagonal scales. Note: The upper side has brass pins insert at the scale starts and some gauge points to protect the rule from the divider points at these frequently used places. Archive - David M. Riches Collection (UK) |
Sectors
|
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) Popularized the sector at the very end of
the 16th Century. The sector is a graduated ruler that uses trigonometric
formulae and a caliper to calculate squares, cubes, reciprocals and tangents
of numbers. Galileo's design of the sector as a mathematical tool can be seen
as the moment when calculation aids cease to be based upon counting and
instead exploit the deeper relationships among numbers. His invention is
still in use as a navigation aid in the 20th century 300 years later.(ref:
Oughtred Society)
Sectors were frequently included in sets of drawing instruments in the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries until made obsolete by the slide rule. There are three types of
scale on an English sector: sectoral ones (radiating from the hinge centre), which
were used for calculation; plane scales (logarithms, sines, tangents) parallel to
the edge; and rules (inches, tenths of feet). Most were six inches in length.
Images from http://www.mathsinstruments.me.uk/
|
 W&S Jones Sector |
W&S Jones Sector Made in UK by W&S Jones, No 135 Holburn, London, England Ivory sector. William & Samuel Jones were at this address from 1792 to 1800. This is very typical of nineteenth century sectors, having scales for inches, decimal feet, lines of sines, tangents, equal parts, chords, numbers (log scales for multiplication), polygons, secants. Archive - Image and comments donated by David M. Riches |
 French Sector |
French Sector Made in France. A brass sector dating from the eighteenth century with scales for line of equal parts, polygons, line of chords, metals, weights of shot and gun calibre. Unlike English sectors, which were used for general calculation, the French ones were generally intended for gunnery calculations. Archive - Image and comments donated by David M. Riches |
 4-1/2 Inch Basswood Sector |
4-1/2 Inch Basswood Sector Made in UK dated from the nineteenth century. Sectors were made in various sizes, but most commonly by far in the six inch size. The smaller, 4 1/2 inch ones would have been made to go with small size instruments, probably a pocket set. The scales are the usual English ones. Archive - Image and comments donated by David M. Riches |
 Elliot Brothers Ivory Sector |
Elliot Brothers Ivory Sector Made in UK by Elliott Bros, Strand, London dating from between 1854 and 1880. This is very typical of nineteenth century sectors, having scales for inches, decimal feet, lines of sines, tangents, equal parts, chords, numbers (log scales for multiplication), polygons, secants. It is a six inch size example. Archive - Image donated by David M. Riches |
K&E Thacher's Calculating Instrument K&E 4012 Thacher's Calculating Instrument |
K&E 4012 Thacher's Calculating Instrument Made in USA - Designed by Edwin Thacher Archive - Michael O'Leary Collection (USA)  |
F.C. Farmar
10 Glouster Terrace, Thorpe Bay, Essex, England
 Farmar's Desk Size Gauging Rule |
Farmar's Desk Size Gauging Rule Made in England - Serial Number 8264 Front Scale (Guaging & Stocking): A [ B, C ] D, E, F Back scale (Reducing): G [ H, I ] J, K, KK Edges: Equations and Equivalents Archive - Scan by Peter Fox, UK. |
Froude
 Froude's Slide Rule
|
Hannyngton
 Hannyngton (Astronomical) Slide_Rule
|
Fuller Fuller Rotary Calculator |
Fuller Rotary Calculator Made in United Kingdom - Designed by Prof. Fuller Archive  |
Issac Aston, Maker Issac Aston 4-Sided_Box Rule |
Issac Aston 4-Sided_Box Rule Made in UK by I. Aston Maker, 25 Old Compton Street, Soho, London c1860 Everard type made of boxwood Side A: ? [ B ] D, on slide: { formula for cask volumes ] Side B: SegST [ C ] SyS Side C: A [ C ] D Side D: Seg Ly [ B ] Sy, on slide: [ ?, Sp D, Variety] Archive - Tom Dilatush Collection |
 Issac Aston Coggeshall |
Issac Aston Coggeshall Carpenter’s slide rule by Isaac Aston, London (working 1851-70), made of boxwood and brass with steel end caps. Isaac Aston (25 Old Compton Street, Soho, London) was succeeded by Aston & Mander. A two foot two-fold rule. Archive - Tom Dilatush Collection |
C. Mander  C. Mander Sliding Gauge Rule |
C. Mander Sliding Gauge Rule Made in UK, London Front Scale: TBD Back scale: TBD Archive - UK Slide Rule Circle |
Aston and Mander Makers  Aston And Mander Makers - Carter's Rivet Pitch Calculator |
Aston And Mander Makers - Carter's Rivet Pitch Calculator Made in UK, London Front Scale: TBD Back scale: TBD Archive - UK Slide Rule Circle |
 Aston And Mander Makers- Dixon Style Slide Rule |
Aston And Mander Makers - Dixon Style Slide Rule Made in UK, 25 Compton ST, London Front Scale: TBD Back scale: TBD Archive - UK Slide Rule Circle |
 Aston And Mander Makers - C. Hoare Slide Rule |
Aston And Mander Makers - C. Hoare Slide Rule Made in UK, 25 Compton ST, London Front Scale: TBD Back scale: TBD Archive - UK Slide Rule Circle |
 Aston And Mander Makers - Ship Tonnage Calculator |
Aston And Mander Makers - Ship Tonnage Calculator Made in UK, for G.L. Watson Co. Naval Architects and Surveyors 141 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow Front Scale: TBD Back scale: TBD Archive - UK Slide Rule Circle |
 Aston And Mander Makers - Timber And Brick Pricing Rule |
Aston And Mander Makers - Timber And Brick Pricing Rule Made in UK, 25 Compton ST, London Front Scale: TBD Back scale: TBD Archive - UK Slide Rule Circle |
T.C. Ballardie  T.C. Ballardie - Merchant Vessel Speed And Power Scale |
T.C. Ballardie - Merchant Vessel Speed And Power Scale Made in UK, by F. Robson &Co., 46 Dean Street, Newcastle on Tyne Front Scale: TBD Back scale: TBD Archive - UK Slide Rule Circle |
Dring and Fage  Dring And Fage - Brewers Slide Rule |
Dring And Fage - Brewers Slide Rule Made in UK Front Scale: TBD Back scale: TBD Archive - UK Slide Rule Circle |
  Dring And Fage - Brewers Slide Rule Set |
Dring And Fage - Brewers Proof Slide Rule Set These ivory rules would have come from a Sikes Hydrometer case and are a Proof rule and a Comparative rule. Made in UK Front Scale: TBD Back scale: TBD |
Loftus  Loftus - Brewers Slide Rule |
Loftus - Brewers Slide Rule Made in UK, London Front Scale: TBD Back scale: TBD Archive - UK Slide Rule Circle |
Roberts  Roberts - Everard Type Gaugers Rule |
Roberts - Everard Type Gaugers Rule Made in UK, London - Pre 1824 Scales: Wine and Ale Gallon Marks Notes: The rather nice Roberts, London - Everard type rule has wine and ale gallon marks so is certainly pre 1824 and most likely second half eighteenth century as Roberts would either have been Edward Roberts (1) working 1749-84 or his son Edward Roberts (2) working 1788-96, both at Dove Court, Old Jewry, London. Ref. G C Clifton's Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers p234. (per David M. Riches) Archive - UK Slide Rule Circle |
R.H. Smith R.H. Smith Cylindrical Slide Rule |
R.H. Smith Cylindrical Slide Rule Helical scales Made by J.H. Steward Archive - Conrad Schure Collection |
Gravet Lenoir Gravet Lenoir |
Gravet Lenoir - c1900 Made in France - 14 Rue Cassette, Paris Front Scale 25cm // A [ B, B ] D || 25cm Back Scale (Slide): [S, T, L ] Well: 25-52cm Archive - Clay Castleberry Collection |
Tavenier - Gravet Tavenier-Gravet |
Tavenier-Gravet - c1900 Made in France- Rue Mayet 19, Paris Front Scale 25cm // A, DF [ CF, CI, C ] D \\ 25cm Back Scale (Slide): [S, L, T ] Cursor: Brass Chisel Point Archive - Rod Lovett Collection |
J. Thomlinson Ltd.
|
||
|
Vade Mecum Vade Mecum Slide Rule |
Vade Mecum Slide Rule Designed Expressly for the timber Trade by George Bousfield, Grimsby. Patent 12806 Made in England Front Scale: 2/16in scale || A [ B, 12-24in, C ] D || 0-12in Back scale: E, F [ G, G, H(OPS)(PTS), I ] J, K Archive - Scan by Clay Castleberry |
