Scientific Instrument Society 25th Anniversary Exhibition
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30 'Gridiron' Slide Rule
I have been collecting slide rules for many years and this one is my only twentieth century example. It is also my favourite slide rule, because it was given to me, over three decades ago, by the curator of a well-known national museum, as they had two examples, but only one was on inventory.
This wood, glass and aluminium slide rule, with scales printed on celluloid, is of the type known as a ‘gridiron’, where the scale has been split into sections to increase the accuracy, and was first introduced in 1866 by Prof. Joseph David Everett (1831–1904).
The military engineer, Major Francis James Anderson, who was stationed in Waterford, Ireland, patented this version in 1903.
Celluloid was invented in 1856 by the English chemist Alexander Parkes (1813-1890), and in 1886 Dennert and Pape of Altona first used white celluloid on slide rules.
It was made by Casella & Co. 11-15 Rochester Row, London S.W., whose name and address are printed on the cardboard case.
English, ca.1903
See: Philosophical Magazine, vol.32, 1866, p.350
British Patent Specification No. 9095 of 1903
Collection: Peter Delehar, London
Objects lent by Peter Delehar, London:
08. Circular Slide Rule on a Snuff Box, by Hoyau, Paris, 1816
11. Reversible Circular Slide Rule, English, c.1840
25. Slide Rules - a Selection of the Original Pocket Calculators
26. Javal's Ophthalmic Slide Rule, by A. Cretes, Paris, c. 1875
27. Triangular Slide Rule with Four Sliders, by Elliott, London, c. 1870
28. Oil Calculation Slide Rule Designed by Forrest M. Towl, New York, c. 1889
29. Master Rule and Gauging Slide Rule, by Dring & Fage, London, 19th Century
31. Slide Rule in a Drawing Scale, by J. Casartelli, Manchester, c. 1870
32. Circular Slide Rule, by Joseph Lamb, London, c. 1827
33. Roubicek Circular Slide Rule for Surveying, by Neuhöfer & Sohn, Vienna, c. 1870
34. Annular Slide Rule, by Elliott Brothers, London, c. 1875
36. Box Sextant with Integral Slide Rule, by Troughton & Simms, London, c. 1870