Pickett N1010-ES Trig Duplex Slide Rule

This ten-inch aluminum linear slide rule has a yellow ("eye saver") coating and a nylon indicator. The front of the base has L, DF, D, and DI scales, with B, ST, T, S, and C scales on the slide. The left end of the slide is marked: MODEL (/) N1010-ES (/) TRIG. The right end of the slide has the style of Pickett logo used between 1958 and 1962, with MADE IN U.S.A. printed below the logo.

The back of the base has K, A, D, and DI scales, with CF, CIF, CI, and C scales on the slide. The left end of the slide is marked: COPYRIGHT 1959© (/) PATENT APPLIED FOR. The right end of the slide is marked: PICKETT INC. (/) Santa Barbara, Calif. Compare to 1993.0559.01.

A black leather case is lined in pink plastic. The triangular Pickett logo stamped in gold below the slot for the case's flap is wearing away. The back of the case has a metal ring for attaching to a belt. Inside the flap is the name and address of David D. Goldberg, who was apparently the first owner of the instrument. It then passed to Janis Popowicz, who donated the rule to the Smithsonian while she was technician in the Division of Mathematics from September 1977 to April 1978. She used it as a high school physics student.

As is the case for many Pickett slide rules (e.g., 1991.0445.02), the dating for this instrument is ambiguous. The copyright date, logo, shape of the posts, and location of the grooves (on the slide instead of on the base) are all consistent with a date between 1958 and 1962. However, Pickett & Eckel only moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., and took the new name of Pickett Industries in 1964. The logo changed in 1962 and again in 1964. See the company history with 1998.0119.02.

References: Rodger Shepherd, "Pickett Metal Slide Rules," Journal of the Oughtred Society 1, no. 1 (1992): 5–8; James A. Coontz, "You Think You Have Moving Day Problem?" Los Angeles Times, January 16, 1964, B8; Michael P. O'Leary, "Pickett from a Manufacturing Perspective," Journal of the Oughtred Society 10, no. 1 (2001): 13–14; Maurice L. Hartung, A Teaching Guide for Slide Rule Instruction (Chicago: Pickett & Eckel, Inc., 1960), http://www.sphere.bc.ca/test/pickett/pickett_training.pdf.

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