HOME

ISRM Sponsored Slide Rule Public
Exhibits, Displays and Presentations
KEEP ISRM FREE!
Donations are
tax deductable

If your town, school or museum would like a version of this display, please contact the curator.

Next venue: 2013 - TBD.


Pima Air and Space Museum
Tucson, Arizona,
Exhibit Feb 15-16, 2013

Oughtred Society 2013 Winter Meeting
ISRM presents Slide Rules Through the ages
and Electronic Slide Rules (1972-1977).

This exhibit was expanded version of the Theme: Electronic Slide Rule Calculators (1972-1977) which premiered early in 2012 in several venues, and due a strong request of the meeting organizers, Martha Prince and Richard Davis, a composite of all the public displays that ISRM has presented was brought to the meeting as well. For the first time, a comprehensive exhibit of Abaci was shown along with over 150 electronic slide rule calculators. This exhibit offerred ISRM to demonstrate its capabilities in providing numerous, professionally arranged displays. The entire setup fit in the back of the curator's 4WD pickup, for the trip from Colorado to Arizona (in freezing weather). Meeting Info


Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library
Broomfield, Colorado,
Exhibit Dec 1, 2012
through Jan 31, 2013

Electronic Slide Rule
Calculators (1972-1977)

Due to limited display cases, this exhibit is a compact version of the Theme: Electronic Slide Rule Calculators (1972-1977) which premiered at the Boulder Public Libray in May of this year (see below for an expanded overview and more pictures). A good friend of the museum, Todd Edmands, helped in the setup of the display. This exhibit also includes a recent donation of a Thacher calculator as well as a section on Abaci, called Abacus, Suan pan, Soroban, and Schowty by various cultures. The Soroban industry in Japan had the same obsolescence event as the slide rule when the electronic calculators appeared. In actuality, they were of the first to fall since four-function calculators appeared in 1970, whilst the scientific 'slide rule' calculator did not arrive until 1972.


Louisville Public Library
Louisville, Colorado
Exhibit Aug 1, 2012
through Aug 31, 2012

Electronic Slide Rule
Calculators (1972-1977)

This exhibit is a compact version of the Theme: Electronic Slide Rule Calculators (1972-1977) which premiered at the Boulder Public Libray in May of this year (see below for an expanded overview and more pictures). It runs in parallel with the library's hosting the interactive National Traveling "Discover Tech Exhibition" exhibit to encourage future technologists with the theme: "Engineers Make a World of Difference". The enchanting and always capable Becky Konshak (the 'Mrs') is shown helping in the placement of the calculator section. This exhibit also includes a recent donation of a Thacher calculator as well as a section on Abaci, called Abacus, Suan pan, Soroban, and Schowty by various cultures. The Soroban industry in Japan had the same obsolescence event as the slide rule when the electronic calculators appeared. In actuality, they were of the first to fall since four-function calcutaors appeared in 1970, whilst the scientific 'slide rule' calculator did not arrive until 1972.

Boulder Public Library
Boulder, Colorado
Exhibit May 1, 2012
through May 31, 2012

Electronic Slide Rule
Calculators (1972-1977)

February 12, 2012 was the 40th anniversery of the introduction of the Hewlett-Packard HP-35 slide rule calculator. This exhibit features a variety of slide rules starting from 1860 and 82 electronic 'slide rule' calculators from 1972-1977 was installed in the Boulder Public Library. They allowed us 15 linear feet of a locked glass display that is located on the 'bridge' which spans Boulder Creek between two buildings. ISRM easily filled the available space. The Main Branch is located at 1000 Canyon Blvd and is open seven-days-a-week.
Many new pre-1900 specimens are shown, consisting of Coggshall Joint Rules and a couple of sectors, one made of ivory, the other basswood. A very special item is a CURTA donated from a close friend whose father, worked on the space program at Martin Marrieta. Along with the slide rules, photos of local and famous people who owned and used many of the slide rules were included. One part includes SR's from locals who went to the US Military Academy and the US Air Force Academy. Rocket scientists Wernher von Braun and Sergei Korolev (along with Albert Einstein) are shown along with their favorite SR, The Nestler 23R. The two specimens in the exhibit were donated by Jürgen Nestler, the Great Grandson of Albert Nestler, in Germany. Other sections included military artillery slide rules, a couple long scale circular SRs.
In the electronic slide rule section, seven (7) Hewlet-Packard slide rule calculators are featured along with 23 slide rule calculators made by Texas Instruments. An additional 47 calculators from all over the world are shown with individual descriptive placards. Calculators from Nestler and Aristo, both premier slide rule makers are available for viewing.
To compliment both sections, several placards guide the viewer as to the history of slide rules and what, the curator defines, is a 'slide rule' calculator. You can see these items and more in the online ISRM Calculator gallery. One shadow box shows the 5 slide rules and 6 calculators used by Mike Konshak, the curator, over 50 years of technical pursuits and engineering, starting when he was 13 years flying model rockets with the National Association of Rocketery, and calculating alititudes with a Lawrence slide rule sold by Vern Estes in his 1959 catalog.
The Boulder Public Library, is renowned in Colorado for its Architectural beauty, The two main buildings of the library has a bridge that transverses Boulder Creek. Inside 'the bridge' you will find an exhibit area of about 35 linear feet of glass cases The Boulder Library has spaces and programs that appeal to toddlers, pre-teens, teenagers, adults and senior citizens. Not just a place to store books and magazines, the Boulder Library is host to lectures, musical performances, films, theater and numerous classes.


Slide rule enthusiasts, Yura Andreiev and Mark Armbrust, help with the installation of the exhibit.

Louisville Public Library
Louisville, Colorado
Exhibit May 2, 2009 through August, 2009

A small exhibit which featured a variety of slide rules was installed in the Louisville Public Library. Along with the slide rules, photos of local and famous people who owned and used many of the slide rules were included. One part includes SR's from locals who went to the US Military Academy and the US Air Force Academy. Rocket scientists Wernher von Braun and Sergei Korolev (along with Albert Einstein) are shown along with their favorite SR, The Nestler 23R. The two specimens in the exhibit were donated by Jürgen Nestler, the Great Grandson of Albert Nestler, in Germany. Authors Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein and Homer Hickam are shown with their books which included slide rules of the type they used or included in their writings. A section for women included Dr. Katherine Blodgett, GE scientist who invented invisible anti-glare glass and Virginia Sink, a Chrysler engineer who designed smog control devices. Other sections included military artillery slide rules, a couple long scale circular SRs and my favorite, SRs used by the of motorcycle builder and tuner Shell Thuet (2001 American Motorcycle Assn. hall of fame) who was the man behind many American racing champions.

Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Longmont, Colorado
Presentation January 12, 2010

A small traveling exhibit which featured a variety of slide rules was displayed in the for the Boulder County chapter of the Society of Manufacturing Engineer. Along with the slide rules, photos of local and famous people who owned and used many of the slide rules were included. A slide rules were handed out to all SME members present and a step-by-step presentation on the use of the slide rules was demonstrated, bringing back many fond memories to the older participants. Mike Konshak, the founder and curator of the ISRM was given an award by Don larsen and Andy Keller. Andy also donated slide rules to ISRM that were not in the museum galleries. On a sad note, Andy died later in 2010. See his tribute below

Andrew (Andy) David Keller (1942-2010) had a long career as an ergonomist, industrial psychologist and human factors engineer, working 17 years for IBM. He served in the US Army 1966-1968 and made design and safety improvements for a personnel carrier which were adopted by the Army. Andy earned his undergraduate degree from Mankato State University and his Masters degree from the University of South Dakota. A strong community citizen, Andy served in his church and was an active leader of the local chapter of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Andy was a contributor of numerous slide rules to the International Slide Rule Museum which can be found in the Pickett and Post galleries. He died in 2010 and was survived by his wife Anne in Longmont, Colorado.

Copyright © 2003-2018 International Slide Rule Museum