this is some sort of measurement converter, i think. it's double sided and has a copyright from 1945. the case is rubber and has this embellishment on it: Pickett and Eckel, Inc.(picture below). it was made in Chicago, or copyrighted there, or something. it is in three pieces that slide. well, the middle one slides (see pictures). it also has a clear slider over the whole thing. here are the pics.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa57/livelaughs/whatarethesethings003.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa57/livelaughs/whatarethesethings004.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa57/livelaughs/whatarethesethings007.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa57/livelaughs/whatarethesethings002.jpg
2007-07-10 07:38:32 · 7 answers · asked by i live to laugh 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
It is a slide rule. It was used before calculators were affordable or available.
As far as its value goes, it looks to be in decent condition. You might be able to check out ebay to get an idea of its value. Or even better, have it appraised by an antiques dealer.
2007-07-10 07:42:06 · answer #1 · answered by hawkofalltrades 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What you have there is a slide ruler. the year i don't know. But it's a mechanical device consisting of a sliding portion and a fixed case, each marked with logarithmic axes. By lining up the ticks, it is possible to do multiplication by taking advantage of the additive property of logarithms. More complicated slide rules also allow the extraction of roots and computation of trigonometric functions.
According to Steinhaus (1983, p. 301), the principle of the slide rule was first enumerated by E. Gunter in 1623, and in 1671, S. Partridge constructed an instrument similar to the modern slide rule. The Oughtred Society, a group of slide rule collectors, claims that W. Oughtred invented the first slide rule in 1622.
The slide rule was an indispensable tool for scientists and engineers through the 1960s, but the development of the desk calculator (and subsequently pocket calculator) rendered slide rules largely obsolete beginning in the early 1970s.
2007-07-10 19:48:11 · answer #2 · answered by lostforfun 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a slide rule.
It's what all the engineers used to use to do their calculations with. You could always tell who the engineering students were because they all carried slide rules hooked to their belt loops.
When electronic calculators were invented they became obsolete.
I have several and have them mounted in a frame and hanging on a wall.
They made them in different lengths, and they also made circular ones in different diameters.
2007-07-11 00:47:14 · answer #3 · answered by gatorbait 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a slide rule which are great for when the electricity doesn't work and you need to do some calculations.
I would buy it from you if I knew how to contact you.
email me at (leave out the spaces to get the correct email address): f l i ck e rin g lig hts@h o tm a il.com
2007-07-10 22:58:04 · answer #4 · answered by idiot detector 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a slide rule--they are what engineers used in the olden days before calculators. I have no idea what it would be worth, but I have one that belonged to my father. Apparently no one remembers how to work them anymore.
2007-07-10 15:35:01 · answer #5 · answered by justjennith 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a slide rule, and it's what people used before calculaters were as advanced as they are now. I don't think it's worth a lot of money though.
2007-07-10 14:42:27 · answer #6 · answered by Lauren A 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
slide rule
2007-07-10 16:36:35 · answer #7 · answered by gafish731 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋