Midget slide rule
Date: copyright 1934
Inventory Number: 2003-1-0244
Classification: Slide Rule
Subject:
Maker: Tavella Sales Company (circa 1935)
Maker: Gilson Slide Rule Company (1915-circa 1975)
Cultural Region:
Dimensions:
slide rule: 1 × 11 × 10.2 cm (3/8 × 4 5/16 × 4 in.)
case: 1.2 × 11.8 × 13 cm (1/2 × 4 5/8 × 5 1/8 in.)
Accessories: black leather case with snap closure, instruction manual (in file)
DescriptionWhite aluminum disc with three transparent yellow celluloid (?) cursors, one short and one long on the front, and one short on the back, joined at the center by a large metal bolt.
Three scales are printed around the circumference of the face of the disc. The outermost scale, for "DEGREES", is double-labeled with values ascending from 0 to 30 and descending from 90 to 60. Inside this is a scale for "SINES", with values ascending from .00 to .50. The third scale from the outside is for "TANGENTS", and has values ascending from .00 to .57.
Each of the "DEGREES", "SINES", and "TANGENTS" scales are continued in two further iterations. The "DEGREES" scale fourth from the outside has values ascending from 30 to 60 and descending from 60 to 30. Inside this a "SINES" scale carries values from .50 to .86, and a "TANS." scale has values ranging from .58 to 1.7.
The three innermost scales are as follows, from outside to inside: A "DEG'ES" scale with values ascending from 60 to 90 and descending from 30 to 0; a "SINES" scale carrying values from .87 to 1; and a "TANS." scale with values ranging from 1.8 to [infinity]. Below the scale near its [infinity] end, two points are marked 4 (leftmost) and "M" (on right).
Printed around the center of the face of the disc is a list of decimal equivalents.
Twelve unlabeled scales are printed on the back of the disc. The outermost is a logarithmic scale with values ascending from 1 to 10. Inside this is an inverted logarithmic scale with values descending from 10 to 1. Third from the outside is a scale carrying values from 0 to 10. Inside this is a scale composed of two logarithmic scales (values 1 to 10) placed side by side, then a scale composed of one logarithmic scale (values 1 to 10) followed by a logarithmic scale with values ranging from 7/64 to 10.
The next two scales on the back of the disc begin in a different location, with the outermost being an extension of the innermost. Sixth from the outside is a log-log scale with values ranging from 4 to 1000M (1,000,000). Inside this is a log-log scale with values ranging from 1.16 to 4.
Eighth from the outside on the back of the disc is a scale with values (marked in fractions) ranging from 0 to 1. Inside this are four additional scales. Around half the circumference of the disc are two side-by-side scales. The first has values descending from 60 to 1; the second has values "A", "F", "K", "P", "U", and "Z". Opposite these scales are two stacked scales for "V" (outermost) and "U.S.S.". These have values descending from 50 to 4 and from 50 to 3, respectively.
The slide rule is stored in a black leather case.
Three scales are printed around the circumference of the face of the disc. The outermost scale, for "DEGREES", is double-labeled with values ascending from 0 to 30 and descending from 90 to 60. Inside this is a scale for "SINES", with values ascending from .00 to .50. The third scale from the outside is for "TANGENTS", and has values ascending from .00 to .57.
Each of the "DEGREES", "SINES", and "TANGENTS" scales are continued in two further iterations. The "DEGREES" scale fourth from the outside has values ascending from 30 to 60 and descending from 60 to 30. Inside this a "SINES" scale carries values from .50 to .86, and a "TANS." scale has values ranging from .58 to 1.7.
The three innermost scales are as follows, from outside to inside: A "DEG'ES" scale with values ascending from 60 to 90 and descending from 30 to 0; a "SINES" scale carrying values from .87 to 1; and a "TANS." scale with values ranging from 1.8 to [infinity]. Below the scale near its [infinity] end, two points are marked 4 (leftmost) and "M" (on right).
Printed around the center of the face of the disc is a list of decimal equivalents.
Twelve unlabeled scales are printed on the back of the disc. The outermost is a logarithmic scale with values ascending from 1 to 10. Inside this is an inverted logarithmic scale with values descending from 10 to 1. Third from the outside is a scale carrying values from 0 to 10. Inside this is a scale composed of two logarithmic scales (values 1 to 10) placed side by side, then a scale composed of one logarithmic scale (values 1 to 10) followed by a logarithmic scale with values ranging from 7/64 to 10.
The next two scales on the back of the disc begin in a different location, with the outermost being an extension of the innermost. Sixth from the outside is a log-log scale with values ranging from 4 to 1000M (1,000,000). Inside this is a log-log scale with values ranging from 1.16 to 4.
Eighth from the outside on the back of the disc is a scale with values (marked in fractions) ranging from 0 to 1. Inside this are four additional scales. Around half the circumference of the disc are two side-by-side scales. The first has values descending from 60 to 1; the second has values "A", "F", "K", "P", "U", and "Z". Opposite these scales are two stacked scales for "V" (outermost) and "U.S.S.". These have values descending from 50 to 4 and from 50 to 3, respectively.
The slide rule is stored in a black leather case.
Signeddisc face, directly below bolt: Tavella Sales Co., / 25 W. Broadway / New York.
Inscribeddisc face, directly above bolt: COPYRIGHTED / 1931;
disc back, directly above bolt: PAT. 1-17-22. / COPYRIGHT 1934. / MADE IN U.S.A.
disc back, directly above bolt: PAT. 1-17-22. / COPYRIGHT 1934. / MADE IN U.S.A.
FunctionFor solving mathematics problems, including multiplication, division, squares, square roots, and trigonometric problems.
The innermost scales on the back of the disc are for use in determining the size of a given drill ("A", "F", etc.), and in determining which drill to use for a particular thread (V and U.S.S. scales).
The innermost scales on the back of the disc are for use in determining the size of a given drill ("A", "F", etc.), and in determining which drill to use for a particular thread (V and U.S.S. scales).
Curatorial RemarksGilson (in Stuart, Florida) manufactured these slide rules for distribution by a number of companies, including the Tavella Sales Co., see related works.
See an earlier version of the Midget, 1989-1-0006.
Identical to 1990-4-0001, though cases appear to be made of different materials, and this object is missing its instruction booklet.
For a later version of the Midget, see DW0968.
See an earlier version of the Midget, 1989-1-0006.
Identical to 1990-4-0001, though cases appear to be made of different materials, and this object is missing its instruction booklet.
For a later version of the Midget, see DW0968.
Primary SourcesThe Slide Rule Manual. Instructions for using the MIDGET SLIDE RULE. New York: Tavella Sales Co., n.d. Available for download here.
ProvenancePrivate Donor, Troy, New York.
