At 10:30 AM 11/1/96 -0800, Timothy C. May wrote:

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Sliderules were just becoming common when I was in high school....

When I was in high school, slide rules and log tables were standard equipment - calculators started to come in towards the end. There was a *lot* of controversy over their use in exams, and in homework ('show your working...'). At one point, you could use a calculator, but only if you noted the fact (and model) on your exam paper. I had a couple of nice 12-inch plastic slide rules - the better one, with about 20 scales and double sides was stolen while I was in college. I still treasure one of the heirlooms from my grandfather - a 12 inch bamboo rule, with his name carefully engraved in engineering lettering ( which he used during his 50+ years at Ma Bell). Not long ago I visited the MIT Museum, and in the shop found for sale 'new' (circa 1975) plastic slide rules, both straight and circular. I got one of each for old time's sake, and am thinking of having one framed with a 'break glass in case of emergency' sign. Peter Trei trei@process.com