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Keuffel & Esser 4088-3 Polyphase Duplex Slide Rule

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Keuffel & Esser Co.
Description
This ten-inch duplex linear slide rule is made from boxwood faced with white celluloid and held together with L-shaped metal end pieces. On one side, the base has DF and D scales, with CF, CIF, and C scales on the slide. The bottom of the base is marked: KEUFFEL & ESSER CO. N. Y.; PAT. JUNE 5, '00 DEC. 22, '08. On the other side, there are K, A, D, and L scales on the base and S, T, and CI scales on the slide. Both pieces of the base and the slide are stamped on one end: 13. The indicator is glass in a metal frame with vertical bars on the sides.
Keuffel & Esser introduced this form of slide rule in 1913 as model 4088-3 and sold it with a leather case for $7.00. This style of indicator was used only from 1913 to 1915, when K&E switched to its "frameless" glass cursor. This example thus dates to 1913–1915. Compare to MA.321778, 1981.0933.03, and MA.318480.
References: Willie L. E. Keuffel, "Slide-Rule" (U.S. Patent 651,142 issued June 5, 1900) and "Slide-Rule" (U.S. Patent 907,373 issued December 22, 1908); Catalogue of Keuffel & Esser Co., 34th ed. (New York, 1913), 304a; Catalogue of Keuffel & Esser Co., 35th ed. (New York, 1915), 307b.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Keuffel & Esser Company
1913
ID Number
MA.318476
catalog number
318476
accession number
235479
Object Name
slide rule
Physical Description
boxwood (overall material)
metal (part material)
celluloid (laminate material)
glass (cursor material)
Measurements
overall: 1 cm x 4 cm x 31 cm; 13/32 in x 1 9/16 in x 12 7/32 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_1214604
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-9593-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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Slide Rule - Keuffel & Esser Model 4088-3 - Polyphase Duplex
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