Keuffel & Esser 4092-3 Log Log Duplex Slide Rule

Object Details

Keuffel & Esser Co.

Description

This ten-inch mahogany two-sided linear slide rule is coated with white celluloid and held together with L-shaped metal end pieces. On one side, the base has K, DF, D, and L scales, with CF, CIF, CI, and C scales on the slide. The right end of the slide is marked in red: < 4092-3 >. The bottom of the base is marked in red: KEUFFEL & ESSER CO. N.Y.; PAT. JUNE 5. '00 DEC. 22. '08 APRIL 1 '24; MADE IN U.S.A. On the other side, the base has LL0, A, LL3, LL2, and LL1 scales, with B, S, T, and C scales on the slide. The left end of the slide and the front of the base are marked with a serial number: 373480.

The indicator is frameless glass with plastic edges held together with metal screws. One edge is marked: K&E.CO.N.Y. (/) PAT.8.17.15. The rule fits in a brown leather case, which is marked on the front of the flap: 4092-3S. The top of the flap is marked: K & E (/) LOG LOG DUPLEX (/) SLIDE RULE. The names of several former owners of the rule are written on the case, including: Bill A.'s; Charles Potter; Theta Xi; Wm. Lund (/) 407 Delaware (/) Ave. (/) Bethlehem Penn.

For information on the patents, see 322761, 318475, and 318479. Keuffel & Esser of New York introduced model 4092-3 in 1922 and in 1925 added a K scale to the rule and an N to the prefix of the model number. The prefix was dropped in 1936, but the indicator was replaced with a new version of K&E's frameless indicator. K&E stopped selling model 4092-3 in 1938, when it was priced with a leather case at $11.75. The serial number on this example is consistent with a manufacture date between 1936 and 1938, but the indicator is of the pre-1936 style. Compare to 1981.0933.01.

References: K&E Slide Rules and Calculating Instruments (New York, 1922), 10–11; K&E Slide Rules and Calculating Instruments (New York, 1925), 10–11; Catalogue of Keuffel & Esser Co., 38th ed. (New York, 1936), 318–319; 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 Edward L. Heller

ca 1936

ID Number

1984.1068.02

catalog number

1984.1068.02

accession number

1984.1068

Object Name

calculating rule

slide rule

Physical Description

plastic (laminate material)

mahogany (overall material)

metal (part material)

glass (cursor material)

leather (case material)

Measurements

overall: 2.8 cm x 33.2 cm x 6.3 cm; 1 3/32 in x 13 1/16 in x 2 15/32 in

place made

United States: New York, New York City

See more items in

Medicine and Science: Mathematics

Science & Mathematics

Slide Rules

National Museum of American History

subject

Mathematics

Rule, Calculating

Record ID

nmah_1130722

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-a4ae-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa