Books on slide rules

If you are serious about slide rule collecting there are two books you must have:

"Slide Rules: Their History, Models, and Makers", Peter M Hopp, Astragal Press, 1999, ISBN 1-879335-86-7. This 300 page book has the following chapters:

    1. History of the Slide Rule
    2. Descriptions and Definitions
    3. Slide Rule Types 1620-1850
    4. Instrument Makers 1920 - 1850
    5. Slide Rule Types 1850 - 1998
    6. Slide Rule Manufacturers 1950 - 1998

The book also has 8 appendices covering: Glossary and biographies, Key dates in the history of slide rules, Bibliography, Patents, Slide rule scales & gauge marks, Dating and valuing, Care of slide rules and Historical context.

"Slide Rules: A Journey Through Three Centuries", Dieter von Jezierski, Astragal Press, ISBN 1-879335-94-8. This 125 page book includes the following chapters:

    Introduction
    History of the Slide rule
    Technical Aspects of the Slide rule
    Slide Rule Makers and their Models

It has 2 appendices covering: German registered designs and patents relating to slide rules, Slide rules of some German makers.

The two books can be considered complementary to one another. Whilst both books have information presented as tables and text, the tables in Hopp's book are very detailed (indeed, for most collectors the definition of a "rare" is if it's not in Hopp's book") whereas Jezierski's book has more narrative text on the history and development of rules. They are both published by Astragal.

Also, I have scanned two complete books which are available on my web site. The first, with the permission of the copyright holder Hodder Stoughton, is the book "Teach Yourself the Slide Rule". This is a comprehensive book on the use of slide rules. The second is Cajori's book on the History of the Slide Rule. This book was published almost 100 years ago and I was able to borrow the copy from the Whipple Museum of the History of Science in Cambridge University.

Another current book describing slide rules, as well as other interesting aspects of mathematics, is Mathematics Galore by Chris Sangwin (who also has a fascinating site on slide rules) and Chris Budd.

The book contains a series of self-contained workshops in mathematics which aim to enthuse and inspire young people, their parents and teachers with the joy and excitement of modern mathematics. Written in an informal style, each chapter describes how novel mathematical ideas relate directly to real life. The chapters contain both a description of the mathematics and its applications, together with problem sheets, their solutions and ideas for further work, project and field trips. Topics include: mazes; folk dancing; sundials; magic; castles; codes; number systems; and slide rules.