Old engineering & mathmatics stuff...

[island911]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

As my father would have said, 'if you don't understand the general order of magnitude you shouldn't use a slide rule and you shouldn't be an engineer'.

This is 1000% right.

[reachme]

Glad that this info (Audels) is still relevant. . .

Funny how "operator" and "she" are synonymous

[masraum]

Originally Posted by reachme

Glad that this info (Audels) is still relevant. . .

Funny how "operator" and "she" are synonymous

Interesting glimpse into a world before my time.

[stevej37]

My Mother was a telephone operator for Mich Bell for years.
She described her job to me once...it sounded as above

[Scott Douglas]

Dad worked for Bell Labs way back in the day. Any time a telephone repair guy had to come out to fix something, he'd get to talking with them. They soon realized he probably knew more about how things worked than they did since he'd worked on designing the system.

[jyl]

Four geeky objects in this photo. My 1990 (?) Monroe Bond Calculator, my kit-built RPN calculator watch, the HP Museum USB stick, and a fountain pen.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jyl

Four geeky objects in this photo. My 1990 (?) Monroe Bond Calculator, my kit-built RPN calculator watch, the HP Museum USB stick, and a fountain pen.

RPN watch? That's AWESOME!

I want a slide rule watch.

[jyl]

uWatch - A DIY Programmable Scientific Calculator Watch

Sadly, the page is just a reminder of what was. The inventor has moved on to other things and the kits haven't been available for many years.



I keep meaning to design a case and have a Pelican 3D print it for me. If the edges are covered, the watch would be more practical.

[1990C4S]

People should try a nice fountain pen...even these are very good.

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Original-Description%EF%BC%89/dp/B00OPQG0Z4/ref=sr_1_12?crid=X8H0SZ54MTL7&dchild=1&keywords=pilot+fountain+pen+disposable&qid=1603283798&sprefix=pilot+foutnain+pen%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-12

[1990C4S]

From reddit today...

For some reason I can't load the picture... Pelican says it's too big.

https://www.reddit.com/r/toolporn/comments/jf7bml/rapid_trigonometrical_indicator_from_before_there/

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

People should try a nice fountain pen...even these are very good.

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Original-Description%EF%BC%89/dp/B00OPQG0Z4/ref=sr_1_12?crid=X8H0SZ54MTL7&dchild=1&keywords=pilot+fountain+pen+disposable&qid=1603283798&sprefix=pilot+foutnain+pen%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-12

I think I only write a few words by hand and pen/pencil a month. And chances are most of the time it's my signature that has devolved into a squiggle over the years. I've always hated handwriting and had horrible penmanship. There has never been any pleasure for me in writing. I do like a nice pen, but it just doesn't make any sense for me to spend any money on one.

[Scott Douglas]

Then there is always this book...

[tcar]

Originally Posted by jyl

Four geeky objects in this photo. My 1990 (?) Monroe Bond Calculator, my kit-built RPN calculator watch, the HP Museum USB stick, and a fountain pen.

I still use my 35 Y.O. Mont Blanc fountain pen. Only occasionally now.

Monroe calculator is in a drawer.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by masraum

I think I only write a few words by hand and pen/pencil a month. And chances are most of the time it's my signature that has devolved into a squiggle over the years. I've always hated handwriting and had horrible penmanship. There has never been any pleasure for me in writing. I do like a nice pen, but it just doesn't make any sense for me to spend any money on one.

I don't write much, and it is almost funny how bad my penmanship is now.

I do keep a piece of scrap 8.5 x 11 paper on my desk and a pen to notes to myself.

Mostly things I need to do, but don't want to stop whatever I am doing to do that task now. By the time the page is full of notes is is sometimes comical to see the variety of tasks I accomplished. Once the page is full, I shred it and it gets composted along with the grass clipping and leaves from the yard.

[flatbutt]

This is my high school pocket sized slide rule. No I didn't carry it on my belt, it went into my pocket protector!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I don't write much, and it is almost funny how bad my penmanship is now.

I do keep a piece of scrap 8.5 x 11 paper on my desk and a pen to notes to myself.

Mostly things I need to do, but don't want to stop whatever I am doing to do that task now. By the time the page is full of notes is is sometimes comical to see the variety of tasks I accomplished. Once the page is full, I shred it and it gets composted along with the grass clipping and leaves from the yard.

I used to keep a notepad around the office for taking notes, but in the last few/several years, I converted to digital notes. It's faster and easier to launch an app and type a note than it is to find the pad, then writing instrument and write a note.

[plain fan]

@masraum, I'll need to find my dads things but I'll post pictures when I do. I haven't seen them in a while so I'm hoping they weren't lost in a move.

I write with my left hand so using a fountain pen has never been an option for me. It's difficult finding a pen that won't smear as it is.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by plain fan

@masraum, I'll need to find my dads things but I'll post pictures when I do. I haven't seen them in a while so I'm hoping they weren't lost in a move.

I write with my left hand so using a fountain pen has never been an option for me. It's difficult finding a pen that won't smear as it is.

Grady, I hope you find them both for yourself and for me. The slide rule that I have is one that my dad found back in a closet when he was an instructor in the Navy at Corry Station in the 80s. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to tell me anything or bring anything home about 99% of what he did. From what I understand from a coworker that did the same job in the Marines, some of the equipment that he used is in the National Cryptologic Museum in Maryland.

I love all of this old stuff that allowed people to do jobs that we assume require computers these days.

[fanaudical]

Sorry - been trapped at work. Am happy to see this thread take off.

[fanaudical]

I was at a non-descript museum in Maryland last December...





I think this fits this thread...