Slide Rule Books

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SLIDE RULE BOOKS

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To make your life easier, and help you find exactly what you want, we have broken the on-line slide rule catalogs into smaller sections. Just CLICK on the icon of the rule type you are looking for at the left, to see the matching catalog. Large graphical catalogs are a bit SLOW, please give them time to load.

This is about slide rule books. If you want to buy books, PLEASE CLICK HERE!

Need to find slide rule books and manuals on line? PLEASE CLICK HERE!

	There are quite a few books and manuals about slide rules, and problem solving with slide rules. As we find them and have a chance to look them over, they are listed here, with a bit of description to aid you in deciding whether or not they might be suitable for you. Keep in mind, it is hard to track down every book and review it, so many may never show up here, and yet be excellent choices.
	Because these are books we have here, it is possible to offer some 'editorial comment' as to contents and usefulness, instead of just publisher's dates and number of pages. I'm happy to take all the blame for the quality of the comments, so feel free to e-mail me your own if they differ.
	Note: many of these books are smaller in size than standard textbooks, and some are soft cover or pamphlet construction. They may not prove very durable, and if you are trying to buy a copy unseen, keep in mind their condition may be quite variable. There are also a large number of K+E *softcover manuals* that are RULE-SPECIFIC, not listed here. They tend to be an extract of the K+E hardcover material, with only those features and scales specific to the given rule. They are of excellent quality, and very worthwhile acquisitions if they can be found. Because of their paperback construction, they often do not survive in good condition, and the hardcover book is the more complete reference in any case. Pickett also produced several softcover slide rule manuals, but no durable hardcover book that we have been able to locate or identify. The Pickett softcover books are good, but certainly not as professionally produced or well written as the K+E softcovers. In fact, Pickett often supplied very poor quality supplemental sheets and pamphlets to explain more specialized scale functions, and these supplements were often lost or destroyed, making the information very hard to find in later years, such as the N4 and N16 supplemental scale operating instructions.

The CATALOG will appear below shortly!

BOOKS and REVIEWS:

JUST SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EVERYTHING !

Book Title Author/Publisher Contents Comments

A History of the Logarithmic Slide Rule By: Florian Cajori, PhD
Astragal Press
Hardcover, 164pgs. Detailed history from Napier to Oughtred and everyone associated or related. Discusses issues of attribution and invention, and documents developments in England, Germany, France, Austria, and the USA. Includes supplemental article, Gunter's Scale and the Slide Rule. Interesting if somewhat obscure history, surprisingly light on technical issues, but long on names and dates. Only for the dedicated historian

K&E Slide Rules
Deci-Lon
An Instruction Manual By: K&E Co.
Keuffel & Esser Company
Hardcover, 186pgs.
Original copyright 1962 Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Based on a K&E Deci-Lon rule. Includes sample problems and answers, log, Sq, Lon and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Includes an extensive explanation of how slide rules work (one of the few). Excellent book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any complex rule.

The Slide Rule Simplified

2nd Edition By: C. O. Harris, BS, MS, ScD
American Technical Society
Hardcover, 258pgs.
Original copyright 1943. 2nd edition 1961. Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Rarely seen with the jacket, book underneath is dark brown with yellow slide rule graphic. Many editions have different colors, and orange, brown and other colors exit. Very good book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for most rules.

Basic Slide Rule Operation
A Program For Self-Instruction By: W.S. Middelstadt
McGraw-Hill Book Company
Spiral soft cover, 161pgs.
Original copyright 1964 Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Based on a K&E Log Log Duplex Trig rule. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Emphasis is on developing strong working knowledge. Excellent book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any rule.

Basic Slide Rule Operation
A Program For Self-Instruction
2nd Edition By: W.S. Middelstadt
McGraw-Hill Book Company
Spiral soft cover, 235pgs.
Original copyright 1964, 71 Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Based on a K&E Log Log Duplex Trig rule. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Emphasis is on developing strong working knowledge, more extensive examples and basic information. Excellent book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any rule.

The Standard Manual of the Slide Rule

2nd Edition, revised and enlarged By: Prof. J. E. Thompson
Macmillan & Co. Ltd.
Hardbound, 216pgs.
Original copyright 1930, rev. 1952 Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. An excellent and very complete history of the slide rule is presented in the first chapter. Emphasis is on developing strong working knowledge, and understanding the math realtionships. Only minor illustration, but does contain many rules of operation, gauge points, and practical problems Very Good book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any rule.

Trigonometry Slide Rule Mehanics
By: ICS Staff
International Textbook Company
Hardbound, 194pgs.
Original copyrights 1915, 21, 23, 30, 34, 36 Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, as it realtes to trig and machine problems. . Includes some sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Highly pratical applications and examples. Interesting book for self-teaching or instruction in this specific area. Very good geometry and trig introduction.

POST Versalog II Slide Rule Instructions By: George John Zanotti, BS, MS and others
Teledyne Post
Soft cover, 192pgs.
Original copyright 1970, 71 Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Based on a POST Versalog rule. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. The book supplied by POST with this type of rule. Very Good book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any higher-end POST rule. Not as extensively illustrated as some others.

Book Author Contents Comments

The Slide Rule And How To Use It
By: Sommers, Drell and Wallschlaeger
Austin Publishing Company
Spiral Soft cover, 208pgs.
Original copyright 1947 Workbook based introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, includes 5 place log table. Fair book for self-teaching or instruction, lower quality printing. Not recommended if higher-rated books are available.

POST Versalog Slide Rule Instructions By: E.I. Fiesenheiser, BS, MS, CE and others
Frederic Post Company
Hard cover, 119pgs.
Original copyright 1951, 63 Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Based on a POST Versalog rule. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. The book supplied by POST with this type of rule. Very Good book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any higher-end POST rule. Not as extensively illustrated as some others.

K&E Catalog
38th Edition By: K&E co.
Keuffel & Esser Co.
Hard cover, 581pgs.
Original copyrights 1887 to 1936 Full product catalog of K&E prodcuts, including slide rules. Any edition is a worthwhile companion to the collector for its extensive descriptions and illustrations of each rule, and it's intended application. Covers rules to 1936, every annual edition shows what is currently available in that year. Excellent book for collectors, has deep technical information on slide rules and all other products. Hard to locate, usually expensive.

The Slide Rule By: Lee H. Johnson, Dean of Engineering
Van Nostrand Co. Inc.
Hardcover, 242pgs.
Original copyright 1949 Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Rarely seen with the jacket, book underneath is plain dark green. Excellent book for self-teaching or instruction. Very complete, and highly recommended for any rule.

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Book Title	Author/Publisher	Contents	Comments
A History of the Logarithmic Slide Rule	By: Florian Cajori, PhD Astragal Press Hardcover, 164pgs.	Detailed history from Napier to Oughtred and everyone associated or related. Discusses issues of attribution and invention, and documents developments in England, Germany, France, Austria, and the USA. Includes supplemental article, Gunter's Scale and the Slide Rule.	Interesting if somewhat obscure history, surprisingly light on technical issues, but long on names and dates. Only for the dedicated historian
K&E Slide Rules Deci-Lon An Instruction Manual	By: K&E Co. Keuffel & Esser Company Hardcover, 186pgs. Original copyright 1962	Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Based on a K&E Deci-Lon rule. Includes sample problems and answers, log, Sq, Lon and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Includes an extensive explanation of how slide rules work (one of the few).	Excellent book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any complex rule.
The Slide Rule Simplified 2nd Edition	By: C. O. Harris, BS, MS, ScD American Technical Society Hardcover, 258pgs. Original copyright 1943. 2nd edition 1961.	Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Rarely seen with the jacket, book underneath is dark brown with yellow slide rule graphic. Many editions have different colors, and orange, brown and other colors exit.	Very good book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for most rules.
Basic Slide Rule Operation A Program For Self-Instruction	By: W.S. Middelstadt McGraw-Hill Book Company Spiral soft cover, 161pgs. Original copyright 1964	Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Based on a K&E Log Log Duplex Trig rule. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Emphasis is on developing strong working knowledge.	Excellent book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any rule.
Basic Slide Rule Operation A Program For Self-Instruction 2nd Edition	By: W.S. Middelstadt McGraw-Hill Book Company Spiral soft cover, 235pgs. Original copyright 1964, 71	Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Based on a K&E Log Log Duplex Trig rule. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Emphasis is on developing strong working knowledge, more extensive examples and basic information.	Excellent book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any rule.
The Standard Manual of the Slide Rule 2nd Edition, revised and enlarged	By: Prof. J. E. Thompson Macmillan & Co. Ltd. Hardbound, 216pgs. Original copyright 1930, rev. 1952	Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. An excellent and very complete history of the slide rule is presented in the first chapter. Emphasis is on developing strong working knowledge, and understanding the math realtionships. Only minor illustration, but does contain many rules of operation, gauge points, and practical problems	Very Good book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any rule.
Trigonometry Slide Rule Mehanics	By: ICS Staff International Textbook Company Hardbound, 194pgs. Original copyrights 1915, 21, 23, 30, 34, 36	Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, as it realtes to trig and machine problems. . Includes some sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Highly pratical applications and examples.	Interesting book for self-teaching or instruction in this specific area. Very good geometry and trig introduction.
POST Versalog II Slide Rule Instructions	By: George John Zanotti, BS, MS and others Teledyne Post Soft cover, 192pgs. Original copyright 1970, 71	Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Based on a POST Versalog rule. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. The book supplied by POST with this type of rule.	Very Good book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any higher-end POST rule. Not as extensively illustrated as some others.
Book	Author	Contents	Comments
The Slide Rule And How To Use It	By: Sommers, Drell and Wallschlaeger Austin Publishing Company Spiral Soft cover, 208pgs. Original copyright 1947	Workbook based introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, includes 5 place log table.	Fair book for self-teaching or instruction, lower quality printing. Not recommended if higher-rated books are available.
POST Versalog Slide Rule Instructions	By: E.I. Fiesenheiser, BS, MS, CE and others Frederic Post Company Hard cover, 119pgs. Original copyright 1951, 63	Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Based on a POST Versalog rule. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. The book supplied by POST with this type of rule.	Very Good book for self-teaching or instruction. Recommended for any higher-end POST rule. Not as extensively illustrated as some others.
K&E Catalog 38th Edition	By: K&E co. Keuffel & Esser Co. Hard cover, 581pgs. Original copyrights 1887 to 1936	Full product catalog of K&E prodcuts, including slide rules. Any edition is a worthwhile companion to the collector for its extensive descriptions and illustrations of each rule, and it's intended application. Covers rules to 1936, every annual edition shows what is currently available in that year.	Excellent book for collectors, has deep technical information on slide rules and all other products. Hard to locate, usually expensive.
The Slide Rule	By: Lee H. Johnson, Dean of Engineering Van Nostrand Co. Inc. Hardcover, 242pgs. Original copyright 1949	Complete introduction to the operation of the slide rule, and problem solving techniques. Includes sample problems and answers, log and trig operations, explanation of all scales. Rarely seen with the jacket, book underneath is plain dark green.	Excellent book for self-teaching or instruction. Very complete, and highly recommended for any rule.