Guedon Pocket Simplex Slide Rule

Description:

This one-sided, five-inch steel linear slide rule is painted white. The scales are not lettered, but on the base they are equivalent to A and D scales and on the slide they are the equivalent of B, CI, and C scales. The bottom of the base is marked: GUEDON. CAMDEN. NEW JERSEY. It is also marked: PATENT PENDING and MADE IN U. S. A.

The base has grooves along the top and bottom of both the front and the back. The front grooves hold a celluloid indicator with concave curves on both sides. The back grooves hold a piece almost as wide as the base that serves as a support for the slide. The slide is a narrower metal piece, hooked to the support at both ends. The front of the support has a table for converting fractions to decimals; on the back are scales of 12.5 cm, divided to millimeters, and of 5 inches, divided to 32nds of an inch. The rule fits in a cardboard sleeve coated with brown synthetic leather.

According to a letter in the Keuffel & Esser collection at the MIT Museum, the Guedon company was making rules of this type in 1943 and selling them wholesale for 50 cents.

Reference: International Slide Rule Museum, "Miscellaneous USA," http://sliderulemuseum.com/MiscUSA.htm.

Date Made: 1940s

Maker: Guedon

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: New Jersey, Camden

Subject: MathematicsRule, Calculating

Subject:

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Mathematics, Science & Mathematics, Slide Rules

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of David G. D. Hecht

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 2009.3008.03Nonaccession Number: 2009.3008Catalog Number: 2009.3008.03

Object Name: slide rule

Physical Description: metal (overall material)plastic (cursor material)paper (case material)Measurements: overall: 5.7 cm x 16.3 cm x .4 cm; 2 1/4 in x 6 13/32 in x 5/32 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-ab83-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1346580

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