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Re: Speaking of slide rules
From: Paul Hirose
Date: 2013 Mar 31, 15:58 -0700
From: Paul Hirose
Date: 2013 Mar 31, 15:58 -0700
Alan S wrote: > It's a K & E 4081-3, which appears to be in proper condition. The rule itself is a bit dirty, I suspect that it will clean up. The Bygrave accuracy test I described in 2009 was worked on a sibling of your rule, a late 1950s K&E 4181-3. http://www.fer3.com/arc/m2.aspx?i=108985&y=200907 Mine is just like yours, except made of plastic. Well, maybe not "just like". K&E went through several scale sets over the years. And they did get the plastic problem fixed - in the 1940s? Mine has no trace of deterioration. It did have gunk - probably dried grease - in the grooves. Why anyone would grease a plastic rule is beyond me. Fortunately, plastic cleans up easily. Remove cursor, disassemble body, use dishwashing detergent and a toothbrush in the sink! I own only a couple wood rules, and fortunately neither needed cleaning. There's all kinds of advice on the Web on slide rule cleaning. This site specializes in K&E: http://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/index.htm --
