Pickett Log Log Speed pocket slide rule
Date: after 1964
Inventory Number: 1991-4-0004c
Classification: Slide Rule
Subject:
Maker: Pickett & Eckel, Inc. (1943-1985)
Seller: Lowell Technological Institute (1895-1991)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
slide rule: 4 × 15.4 × 0.8 cm (1 9/16 × 6 1/16 × 5/16 in.)
case: 5.2 × 17 × 2.1 cm (2 1/16 × 6 11/16 × 13/16 in.)
Accessories: brown leather case with belt clip
DescriptionRectangular aluminum rule with three slides, faced with yellow enamel. The top and bottom slides are bolted to horseshoe-shaped aluminum pieces at both ends on both sides. The center slide moves to left and right. It has a small circular hole near each end. A clear plastic cursor bolted to a clear plastic frame also slides to left and right.
Eleven scales are printed on the face of the slide rule. Near the top of the top, fixed slide are two log log scales sharing a baseline and labeled "LL_1". The top scale, which has a "+" sign printed directly to its left, has values ascending from 1.01 to 1.10. The bottom scale has a "-" sign directly to its left and is printed in red, with a sideways chevron to the left of each value. These values descend from .99 to .91.
Printed along the bottom edge of the top, fixed slide is an "A" scale, composed of two logarithmic scales (values 1 to 10) printed side by side. An identical "B" scale is printed along the top edge of the center, moveable slide.
Printed below the "B" scale is an "ST" scale, with values ranging from .55 to 5.8°. Third and fourth from the top on the center slide are two scales sharing a baseline, "T" (top) and "S" (bottom). Both scales have two sets of values. On the "T" scale, the set of values printed in black ascends from 5.7 to 45. The set printed in red, with a sideways chevron to the left of each number, descends from 84.3 to 45.
On the "S" scale, the set of values printed in black ascends from 5.7 to 90. The set printed in red, with a sideways chevron to the left of each number, descends from 84.3 to 0.
Printed along the bottom edge of the center slide is logarithmic "C" scale, carrying values from 1 to 10. An identical "D" scale is printed along the top edge of the bottom, fixed slide.
Printed in red below the "D" scale, with a sideways chevron to the left of each of its values, is an inverted logarithmic scale "DI". It has values descending from 10 to 1. Printed near the bottom of the bottom slide is a "K" scale, composed of three logarithmic scales (values 1 to 10) placed side by side.
The back of the rule is likewise printed with eleven scales. Near the top of the top, fixed slide are two log log scales sharing a baseline and labeled "LL_2". The top scale, which has a "+" sign printed directly to its left, has values ascending from 1.11 to e. The bottom scale has a "-" sign directly to its left and is printed in red, with a sideways chevron to the left of each value. These values descend from .90 to .40.
Printed along the bottom edge of the top, fixed slide is a logarithmic scale "DF", with values that wrap around from [pi] to 10, then from 1 to [pi]. An identical scale "CF" is printed along the top edge of the center, moveable slide.
Printed below the "CF" scale on the center slide are two scales sharing a baseline, "Ln" (top) and "L" (bottom). The former has values ranging from 0 to 2.3; the latter has values ranging from 0 to 1. Fourth from the top along the center slide is an inverted scale "CI", printed in red with a sideways chevron to the left of each of its values. These values descend from 10 to 1.
Printed along the bottom edge of the center slide and the top edge of the bottom, fixed slide, respectively, are "C" and "D" scales identical to those on the face of the rule.
Two log log scales sharing a single baseline are printed near the bottom of the bottom slide; both are labeled "LL_3". The top scale, which has a "+" sign printed directly to its left, has values ascending from e to 20M. The bottom scale has a "-" sign directly to its left and is printed in red, with a sideways chevron to the left of each value. These values descend from .37 to .0001.
The slide rule is stored in a brown leather case with belt clip. It was purchased as part of the Pickett "Slide Rule Twin Pack"; see 1991-4-0004a, 1991-4-0004b for the remaining contents of the pack. It is stored in the original "Twin Pack" box, see 1991-4-0004a.
Eleven scales are printed on the face of the slide rule. Near the top of the top, fixed slide are two log log scales sharing a baseline and labeled "LL_1". The top scale, which has a "+" sign printed directly to its left, has values ascending from 1.01 to 1.10. The bottom scale has a "-" sign directly to its left and is printed in red, with a sideways chevron to the left of each value. These values descend from .99 to .91.
Printed along the bottom edge of the top, fixed slide is an "A" scale, composed of two logarithmic scales (values 1 to 10) printed side by side. An identical "B" scale is printed along the top edge of the center, moveable slide.
Printed below the "B" scale is an "ST" scale, with values ranging from .55 to 5.8°. Third and fourth from the top on the center slide are two scales sharing a baseline, "T" (top) and "S" (bottom). Both scales have two sets of values. On the "T" scale, the set of values printed in black ascends from 5.7 to 45. The set printed in red, with a sideways chevron to the left of each number, descends from 84.3 to 45.
On the "S" scale, the set of values printed in black ascends from 5.7 to 90. The set printed in red, with a sideways chevron to the left of each number, descends from 84.3 to 0.
Printed along the bottom edge of the center slide is logarithmic "C" scale, carrying values from 1 to 10. An identical "D" scale is printed along the top edge of the bottom, fixed slide.
Printed in red below the "D" scale, with a sideways chevron to the left of each of its values, is an inverted logarithmic scale "DI". It has values descending from 10 to 1. Printed near the bottom of the bottom slide is a "K" scale, composed of three logarithmic scales (values 1 to 10) placed side by side.
The back of the rule is likewise printed with eleven scales. Near the top of the top, fixed slide are two log log scales sharing a baseline and labeled "LL_2". The top scale, which has a "+" sign printed directly to its left, has values ascending from 1.11 to e. The bottom scale has a "-" sign directly to its left and is printed in red, with a sideways chevron to the left of each value. These values descend from .90 to .40.
Printed along the bottom edge of the top, fixed slide is a logarithmic scale "DF", with values that wrap around from [pi] to 10, then from 1 to [pi]. An identical scale "CF" is printed along the top edge of the center, moveable slide.
Printed below the "CF" scale on the center slide are two scales sharing a baseline, "Ln" (top) and "L" (bottom). The former has values ranging from 0 to 2.3; the latter has values ranging from 0 to 1. Fourth from the top along the center slide is an inverted scale "CI", printed in red with a sideways chevron to the left of each of its values. These values descend from 10 to 1.
Printed along the bottom edge of the center slide and the top edge of the bottom, fixed slide, respectively, are "C" and "D" scales identical to those on the face of the rule.
Two log log scales sharing a single baseline are printed near the bottom of the bottom slide; both are labeled "LL_3". The top scale, which has a "+" sign printed directly to its left, has values ascending from e to 20M. The bottom scale has a "-" sign directly to its left and is printed in red, with a sideways chevron to the left of each value. These values descend from .37 to .0001.
The slide rule is stored in a brown leather case with belt clip. It was purchased as part of the Pickett "Slide Rule Twin Pack"; see 1991-4-0004a, 1991-4-0004b for the remaining contents of the pack. It is stored in the original "Twin Pack" box, see 1991-4-0004a.
Signedface, center slide, right center: [Pickett trademark] / SYNCHRO SCALE;
back, center slide, top right: PICKETT INC.;
case, stamped on leather flap above belt clip: PICKETT
back, center slide, top right: PICKETT INC.;
case, stamped on leather flap above belt clip: PICKETT
Inscribedface, center slide, top left: MODEL / N600-ES;
face, center slide, bottom left: LOG LOG / SPEED RULE;
back, center slide, bottom right: SANTA BARBARA / Calif.
face, center slide, bottom left: LOG LOG / SPEED RULE;
back, center slide, bottom right: SANTA BARBARA / Calif.
FunctionFor solving mathematics problems, including problems involving multiple factors, multiplication, division, powers, roots, and trigonometric problems. For details, see the manual (primary sources).
Historical AttributesThe Pickett model N600-ES was used by NASA astronauts on a number of Apollo missions. The slide rule used by the crew of Apollo 13 is owned by the Smithsonian Institution. See this for website details.
Curatorial RemarksPickett & Eckel moved to Santa Barbara in 1964.
Primary SourcesHartung, Maurice. How to Use Log Log Slide Rules. Chicago: Picket & Eckel, Inc., 1953. Available for download here.
ProvenancePrivate donor, 1991. Originally purchased from the Lowell Technological Institute Bookstore (University of Lowell), September 1968.
