I was asked what my picture was in this post.
It is a Fuller Calculator, essentially a slide-rule wrapped around a cylinder. Given that it is equivalent to a 25.40 m long slide rule, it was considerably more precise than its linear cousin.
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How much does it weigh?
I only had a late model, Bakelite rather than brass. As far as I remember, it was a bit heavier than an ordinary slide rule, but not excessively so.
The great advantage was that it was much smaller than a 12 inch slide rule and much easier to get into a school bag.
How much does it weigh?
My Otis King is about 190g. It feels quite hefty. Compare with a 6-inch slide rule at about 10g.
Back in 1960-something, folks might have been surprised to see me, as a schoolboy, whipping out a slide rule to do fairly simple sums. Fact is, I was always useless at memorising and there are still gaps in my in-brain multiplication tables. They were expensive things, and I had to get a small one. But it was good enough for my modest needs.
I remember seeing cylindrical/mechanical devices: awesome, but I (still) wouldn’t have a clue how to use them.
My rather advanced slide rule is 125g (200g in its case). I reckon the slightly simpler model popular with French engineering students at the time was around 100g.
You make me feel young. I never used a slide ruler.
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