Hemmi "Sun" slide rule
Date: circa 1951
Inventory Number: 2003-1-0226
Classification: Slide Rule
Subject:
Maker: Hemmi (1895-1976)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
1 × 30 × 4.5 cm (3/8 × 11 13/16 × 1 3/4 in.)
Accessories: Black leatherette case, for storage.
DescriptionBamboo rectangular faced with white celluloid, with three slides. The top and bottom slides are fixed; the center slide moves to left and right and is printed on both sides.
The beveled edge of the slide rule base above the top slide is printed with a scale in centimeters, graduated into tenths.
The bottom edge of the top, fixed slide is printed with an "A" scale, composed of two logarithmic scales (values 1 to 10) placed side by side. A point on the scale near the 32 mark is labeled "M". To either side of the scale is a diagram composed of a vertical line bisecting a horizontal double-sided arrow. In the top left and bottom right corners of the resulting quadrant are plus signs; in the top right and bottom left corners are minus signs.
The top edge of the bottom, fixed slide is printed with a logarithmic "D" scale, carrying values from 1 to 10. A point on the scale near the 1.13 mark is labeled "C". "QUOT / +1" is printed to the left of the scale. "PROD / -1" is printed to the right of the scale. Printed near the bottom edge of the bottom slide is a "K" scale, composed of three logarithmic scales (values 1 to 10) placed side by side.
The face of the center, moveable slide is printed with three scales. Along its top edge is a "B" scale identical to the "A" scale on the top slide. Along its bottom edge is a "C" scale identical to the "D" scale on the bottom slide. Printed in red along the center of the face of the center slide is an inverted logarithmic scale "CI", with values descending from 10 to 1.
The back of the center slide is also printed with three scales. Along its top edge is an "S" scale, with values ranging from 35' to 90°. Along its bottom edge is a "T" scale carrying values from 5.5 to 45. Along the center of the back of the center slide is printed an inverted "L" scale, with values descending from 10 to 1.
The slide rule is stored in a black leatherette case.
The beveled edge of the slide rule base above the top slide is printed with a scale in centimeters, graduated into tenths.
The bottom edge of the top, fixed slide is printed with an "A" scale, composed of two logarithmic scales (values 1 to 10) placed side by side. A point on the scale near the 32 mark is labeled "M". To either side of the scale is a diagram composed of a vertical line bisecting a horizontal double-sided arrow. In the top left and bottom right corners of the resulting quadrant are plus signs; in the top right and bottom left corners are minus signs.
The top edge of the bottom, fixed slide is printed with a logarithmic "D" scale, carrying values from 1 to 10. A point on the scale near the 1.13 mark is labeled "C". "QUOT / +1" is printed to the left of the scale. "PROD / -1" is printed to the right of the scale. Printed near the bottom edge of the bottom slide is a "K" scale, composed of three logarithmic scales (values 1 to 10) placed side by side.
The face of the center, moveable slide is printed with three scales. Along its top edge is a "B" scale identical to the "A" scale on the top slide. Along its bottom edge is a "C" scale identical to the "D" scale on the bottom slide. Printed in red along the center of the face of the center slide is an inverted logarithmic scale "CI", with values descending from 10 to 1.
The back of the center slide is also printed with three scales. Along its top edge is an "S" scale, with values ranging from 35' to 90°. Along its bottom edge is a "T" scale carrying values from 5.5 to 45. Along the center of the back of the center slide is printed an inverted "L" scale, with values descending from 10 to 1.
The slide rule is stored in a black leatherette case.
Signedtop slide, top center: ["SUN" trademark] HEMMI;
face of case, right center: ["SUN" trademark] / HEMMI'S BAMBOO SLIDE RULE
face of case, right center: ["SUN" trademark] / HEMMI'S BAMBOO SLIDE RULE
FunctionFor solving mathematics problems, including problems involving multiple factors, multiplication, division, squares, square roots, cubes, cube roots, and trigonemetric problems.
Curatorial RemarksChanged date from "after 1950" to "circa 1951". This slide rule closely resembles that used to illustrate the 1951 manual, see primary sources.
Primary Sources"Instructions for the Use of 'HEMMI' Bamboo Slide Rules." Tokyo: Hemmi Bamboo Slide Rule Mfg. Co., Ltd., 1951. Available for download here.
ProvenancePrivate Donor, Troy, New York.