Fuller's spiral slide rule
Date: 1894-1895
Inventory Number: 1989-1-0038
Classification: Slide Rule
Subject:
Maker: W. F. Stanley & Company, Ltd. (1854 - 1999)
User: Pierce Hall, Harvard University (built 1901)
User: Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University (1946 - 2007)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
slide rule: 43 × 8 × 9 cm (16 15/16 × 3 1/8 × 3 9/16 in.)
case: 10 × 45 × 11 cm (3 15/16 × 17 11/16 × 4 5/16 in.)
Material:
Accessories: case
DescriptionThis spiral slide rule consists of three concentric cylinders. The outermost papier-maché cylinder is covered with the spiral slide rule scale. This cylinder is mounted on felt and smoothly slides over another cylinder within it.
This middle cyclinder is covered with paper printed with various mathematical and engineering tables. The cylinder is fixed to the wooden base and handle of the slide rule. The base supports a vertical brass index, which terminates in a point.
The innermost cylinder slides inside the middle cylinder, which is lined with thick felt. This cylinder is made of brass. The top of the cylinder is fixed to a wooden cap that funnels gracefully into an opening that enables one to look down the barrel of the cylinder. The wood cap carries the primary brass index for the slide rule. This brass index is graduated and has several notches.
The foot of the outermost cylinder and matching stop on the wooden base are both brass.
The mahogany case has a lock, but the key is missing.
This middle cyclinder is covered with paper printed with various mathematical and engineering tables. The cylinder is fixed to the wooden base and handle of the slide rule. The base supports a vertical brass index, which terminates in a point.
The innermost cylinder slides inside the middle cylinder, which is lined with thick felt. This cylinder is made of brass. The top of the cylinder is fixed to a wooden cap that funnels gracefully into an opening that enables one to look down the barrel of the cylinder. The wood cap carries the primary brass index for the slide rule. This brass index is graduated and has several notches.
The foot of the outermost cylinder and matching stop on the wooden base are both brass.
The mahogany case has a lock, but the key is missing.
Signedprinted at the end of the scale along the bottom of the outermost cylinder: ENTD. STATS. HALL. / STANLEY, Maker, LONDON
Inscribedprinted on tradecard pasted in case lid: To H.M.Government Science & Art Depnt. Council of India, Admiralty, &c. / MADE BY / W. F. STANLEY, / Optical, Philosophical & Mathematical / INSTRUMENT MANUFACTURER, / ENGINE DIVIDER, &c. / MATHEMATICAL DEPARTMENT, GREAT TURNSTILE, HOLBORN, W.C.
stenciled in Gothic letters in black paint on case lid: Calculator
on metal tag screwed to case lid: HARVARD UNIVERSITY / 801
serial number stamped on index: 936
printed at the beginning of the scale on the outermost cylinder: FULLERS SPIRAL SLIDE RULE
stenciled in Gothic letters in black paint on case lid: Calculator
on metal tag screwed to case lid: HARVARD UNIVERSITY / 801
serial number stamped on index: 936
printed at the beginning of the scale on the outermost cylinder: FULLERS SPIRAL SLIDE RULE
Primary SourcesGeorge Fuller, A Calculating Slide Rule Equivalent to a Straight Slide Rule 83 Feet 4 Inches Long, or, a Circular Rule 13 Feet 3 Inches in Diameter (London: W. F. Stanley, 1897). [copy in the file of inv. 1989-1-0038]
ProvenanceFrom Pierce Hall, Division of Applied Sciences; Bob Burns, Harvard Univ. Police Department; gift to CHSI, 1989.