posted 05-01-2003 10:42 PM              

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Boy, am I bursting with pride tonight.

Just got back from Kansas Cosmosphere, and an outstanding, entertaining lecture and reception with Captain Wally Schirra. What a personalble man, and so proud to be an American and so proud of America. A great illustration that you can, and should have, a good time while getting important stuff done.
Go hear him if you ever have a chance. He won't be around forever.

As an engineer class of 1965, I grew up using a slide rule, not a computer. I consider it a proud symbol of my craft, and a wonderful tool used by many for the betterment of all. I still proudly have my 1960 Post Versalog 10" rule made of Bamboo in a leather scabbard. It still has my 1960 nameplate, without area code or Zip Code ( hard to believe there was a time they weren't there).
I've started having people who are heroes to me in science and engineering and space exploration autograph it. I include my college counselor, and the currrent chancellor. I include Max Ary who was a driving force behind Cosmsphere, and now heads up Kirkpatrick in Oklahoma City.
My first astronaut was Cosmoanut Pavel Vinogradov of Mir. I've proudly added in person Jim Lovell, Tom Akers from my alma Mater, Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy ( more simply now University of Missouri-Rolla, always MSM to me), and last weekend Sally Ride. What a wonderful inspiraton she is to young women.
Tonight was my frosting on the cake as Wally signed my slide rule, and asked if he could look at it. He ran some calculations, reminisced that he had a K&E brand at Annapolis ( we engineers always argued over which was better, Post, K&E, Or Pickett).
Wally then proceded to give a 5 minute lecture to young people on what this was and how we used it. I am so proud, forgive the rambling.
Thanks to all who have gone before and made us better now.

Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 05-01-2003 11:02 PM               

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Great story! I think those types of encounters are what it is all about. A story you can share the rest of your life!

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Warm Regards

Douglas Henry

Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby!

Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999

Posts: 221
From: Euless,TX USA
Registered: Mar 2003

Posts: 53
From: knoxville, tn USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 05-02-2003 12:10 PM               

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That is a great story! My husband collects slide rules. He had to use them when he was an undergrad at Auburn's school of architecture in the late 1970s. Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience.

Desiree.

Posts: 464
From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 05-02-2003 07:47 PM               

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Great story,

One of my college professors who taught computer drafting - on the latest machine - an Apple II - had a slide rule and a TI calculator in a small wooden box with a glass door labeled "break glass in case of emergency!"

Most of the students - myself included would not have known what to do with the slide rule...... and that was in 1980.... a time of transition where slide rules were on their way out.

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Jake Schultz - curator,
Newport Way Air Museum (OK, it's just my home)

Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 05-03-2003 12:41 PM            

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One of the 'best' slide rules - from a space exploration viewpoint - is Korolev's slide rule which is on display in Moscow.

I have a image somewhere which I'll hunt down in a few minutes. I'll doa quickie web page and post addresss here

[since I'm not sure hwo we stand on posting iamges to the site here ??)

Phill
UK

Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 05-03-2003 02:39 PM            

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OK

The following web page shows Korolev's slide rule - "The Magician's Wand ":-
http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~spaceuk/korolev/index.html

Enjoy !

Phill
Uk

PS _ the Soviet Union LM image is an original painting (this was a draft) and forms part of a large series of original artworks on SU lunar programs I hold - many not yet publically exhibited.

posted 05-04-2003 09:08 PM              

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Black Arrow; I see by your profile you are an attroney. How did you wind up using a slide rule?

Really enjoyed seeing the "Magic Wand" Slide Rule of Koralev.

This caused me to be on the lookout during a museum tour I gave for Boy Scouts at Cosmosphere yesterday. They were working on their Space Exploration merit badge, and were from Omaha, NE and Kansas City, MO area. A good bunch of boys ( to my UK friends, Lord Baden Powell would be proud)

Anyway one of the many neat things at Cosmosphere are slide rules used by Koralev and Wehner von Braun. At athis point I amazed the boys with my "Slip Stick". They also enjoyed the autographs.

Like help from the group. I've been thinking sometime about trying to start a Slide Rule colection. I'd especially love to get slide rules used by famous scientist, engineers and exploresrs. Of course, my budget never matches my taste. Any ideas on how I might start such a collection.