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⬅️ Previous capture (2021-12-04)
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I received a circular slide rule in the mail today from a Japanese company called Concise. Concise makes many products, including drafting tools, and they are the only company I am aware of that continues to manufacture new slide rules in 2021.
I have three other slide rules: a Dietzgen student's slide rule stolen from a box of old school supplies at my parents' house, a Pickett slide rule of the same model as that used by astronauts during the Apollo program, and a Soviet slide rule of unknown vintage found at a militaria show.
While I was born after slide rules fell out common use, hand tools such as the slide rule fascinate me. People today, especially of my generation, tend to rely on digital systems to do everything for them automatically, and they have little to no interest in how the underlying processes work. Of course, many companies consider their processes trade secrets and are not forthcoming with them anyway, especially in today's culture of information spreading worldwide in an instant. Hand tools give me a chance to understand scientific and engineering systems in a way I rarely get a chance to otherwise.
Although it's a great learning tool, my new slide rule will most likely not replace my digital calculator, at least in terms of sheer power and convenience. I won't be balancing my checkbook with it anytime soon.
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[Last updated: 2021-10-28]