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Keuffel & Esser 4083-5 Log Log Vector Duplex Slide Rule

American History Museum

Keuffel & Esser Model 4083-5 Duplex Slide Rule with Case
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  • Keuffel & Esser Model 4083-5 Duplex Slide Rule with Case
  • Serial Number, Keuffel & Esser Model 4083-5 Duplex Slide Rule
  • Cursor, Keuffel & Esser Model 4083-5 Duplex Slide Rule

    Object Details

    maker

    Keuffel & Esser Co.

    Description

    This 20-inch mahogany duplex slide rule is coated with white celluloid and held together with metal end pieces. On one side, the base has LL02, LL03, DF, D, LL3, and LL2 scales, with CF, CIF, CI, and C scales on the slide. The right end of the slide is marked in red: © (/) K + E. On the other side, the base has Sh1, Sh2, Th, A, D, DI, LL01, and LL1 scales, with B, T, SRT, and S scales on the slide. The first three scales are hypobolic scales. The trigonometric scales are divided into degrees and into decimals. The left end of the slide has a serial number: 640023. The left ends of both parts of the base are marked: 023. A glass indicator has plastic edges and metal screws. Compare to MA.318481
    The top edge of the rule is marked: PATS. PEND. MADE IN U.S.A. 4083-5 LOG LOG DUPLEX VECTOR ® COPYRIGHT 1947 BY KEUFFEL & ESSER CO. PATS. 2,500,460 2,168,056 2,170,144 2,285,722 2,422,649. See 2007.0181.01 for a description of these patents. There is a green leather case with metal inlays on the holder for the flap. One of the inlays is marked: PAT. 2,000,337. The flap is marked: K + E. Adolf W. Keuffel applied to patent his method for securing a slide rule case on November 1, 1932, and received the patent on May 7, 1935.
    Keuffel & Esser of New York used this set of scales on this model number from 1955 to 1962. The serial number is consistent with a date later in this time frame. The rule sold with the leather case for $56.50 in the 1950s.
    References: Adolf W. Keuffel, "Slide Rule Case" (U.S. Patent 2,000,337 issued May 7, 1935); K + E Catalog, 42nd ed. (New York: Keuffel & Esser Co., 1954), 280–281; Keuffel & Esser Co., "Price List Applying to the 42nd Edition Catalog" (New York, June 1, 1956), 43; Clark McCoy, "Collection of Pages from K&E Catalogs for the 4083-3 Family of Slide Rules," http://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/KEModels/ke4083-3family.htm; Ed Chamberlain, "Estimating K&E Slide Rule Dates," 27 December 2000, http://www.sphere.bc.ca/test/ke/320-k+e_date2.jpg.

    Location

    Currently not on view

    Credit Line

    Gift of Bruce Douglas

    date made

    1955-1962

    ID Number

    MA.335483

    accession number

    321673

    catalog number

    335483

    Object Name

    calculating rule
    slide rule

    Physical Description

    mahogany (overall material)
    celluloid (laminate material)
    glass (cursor material)
    metal (part material)
    leather (case material)

    Measurements

    overall: 2.5 cm x 58.5 cm x 7 cm; 31/32 in x 23 1/32 in x 2 3/4 in

    place made

    United States: New York, New York City

    See more items in

    Medicine and Science: Mathematics
    Science & Mathematics
    Slide Rules

    Data Source

    National Museum of American History

    Subject

    Mathematics
    Rule, Calculating
    Engineering, General

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-a7fe-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

    Record ID

    nmah_1130717

    Discover More

    Cylindrical slide rule with a wooden case

    Linear Slide Rules

    Cylindrical slide rule with a wooden case

    Index by Material

    Cylindrical slide rule with a wooden case

    Index by Purpose

    Cylindrical slide rule with a wooden case

    Index by Makers & Retailers

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