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Sources of slide rules If the rest of the site has increased your appetite for slide rules - this page shows you where you can get them. There are four main ways in which collectors can acquire new rules: |
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| Internet auctions | Since
this site is on the Internet you obviously are familiar with it - so the Internet could be
a good way to get slide rules. My advice, based on relatively little experience, would
be: |
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| ebay | This is the
best established of the internet auctions site. At any one time on the USA and
international site there around 300 rules for sale (more in the winter - less in the
summer). The two "national" sites have many fewer. To access them, click on the
link and enter "slide rule" (or "rechenschieber") for the search.
There is a wide range of rules from student's rules for around few dollars up to classic
rules for several hundred dollars . For more information on prices look at the prices
section of this web site.
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http://www.ebay.com (U.S.A. and
international) http://www.ebay.co.uk (United Kingdom) http://www.ebay.de (Germany) |
| yahoo | This site is not as well established as ebay. At present there are only about 10 to 20 rules. Given Yahoo's backing this might grow. | http://auctions.yahoo.com/ |
| Slide rule dealers | This
is the easy way out. If you want to get a collection going quickly this is where to start. I have not used any of the dealers myself (except for a successful exchange with Dick Rose) nor do I have commercial links with any of them. I you feel I have misrepresented you or do not wish to be included - please contact me at sliderules@clara.co.uk. |
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| Dick Rose | Dick doesn't have a web site but he does have a vast range of rules for sale. It icludes almost 600 different slide rules and 400 hundred related items. | Dick's current list can be found here. |
| Dave Thompson | Specialises in mint condition German slide rules. | http://www.davidthompson.co.uk/page5.html |
| The Sphere Research Slide Rule Universe (Canada) | One of the largest web sites dealing with slide rules (they also deal with other scientific equipment). In addition to descriptions of the rules they have for sale there is also lot of other interesting material. The site has also attracted media attention - including the New York Times. | http://www.sphere.bc.ca/test/sruniverse.html |
| Dave Crate's Quality Slide Rule (US) | Has a range of mint and good condition used slide rules. Almost entirely from the USA. Has a fairly short "editorial" section. | http://www.amug.org/~puppy/index.html |
| A. R. (Dick) Schwartzer's Slide Rule Emporium (US) | Concentrates on mint condition Pickett slide rules. Also offers slide rule display racks. | http://members.tripod.com/r.schwartzer/index.htm |
| The Gemmary (US) | Has about sixty rules from a range of countries for sale. | http://www.gemmary.com/sliderules.html |
| Technical Collectibles. | Not just slide rules but does have K & E slide rules and parts. | http://www.technicalcollectibles.com/kesr.htm |
| Enrico Tedeschi (Brighton, UK) | Has a dozen or so mainly British slide rules for sale. The list doesn't seem to change very often but I have seen other rules he has offered on the internet. | http://www.etedeschi.ndirect.co.uk/sale/rules.htm |
| Trading | Once you start collecting you will find that you the same rules come up from time to time. I have also acquired several rules of same type from former dealers or schools. Whilst the rules may be common in your own country, the Internet allows to make exchanges with collectors from other countries. | |
| The Slide Rule Trading Group | Designed to promote exchanges between collectors - has about 30 participants so far. | http://beseen2.looksmart.com/boardroom/w/45378 |
| Ron Manley | Yes, that's me. I'm not a trader but I do have some rules for trade or - if the price is right - for sale. | My list can be found here. |
| Kung's slide rule links. | Has a few slide rules, mainly oriental for sale/trade. Also has the most comprehensive list of links of to slide rule sites on the Internet. | http://www.post1.com/home/kung/srule.htm |
| Peter Holland (Germany) | Based in Germany, Peter has a wide range of mainly German slide rules for exchange. | http://home.t-online.de/home/PHolland/ |
| Local purchase | This
somewhat vague heading covers the other three ways in which most collectors get new rules. Antique dealers. I have got a lot of rules from "antique warehouse" or large open air "antiques fairs". In both of these cases you get several dealers with different ranges of interests. Provided you have an idea of what is a reasonable price you do not need to pay an exorbitant amount - though some caution is called for as one dealer I have used had reasonable prices for top end rules but ridiculous prices for some cheap rules. Car boot sales, flea markets etc. These are sales where you are dealing directly with the seller. Prices tend to be lower than through dealers but my experience has been that a lot of leg work is required. Auctions. This is probably the best way to get rare or antique rules. Prices at sales where a lot of rules are offered, and competition comes from other collectors, tend to be high. On the other hand at sales where the may be the occasional rule prices tend to be lower. |
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