Hemmi Slide Rule Catalogue Raisonne
Notes on Hemmi 258 / Post 1460 "Versalog" / Hughes-Owens
1777 "Versalog"
During WWII, when Japanese slide rules were not available, The Frederick
Post Company of Chicago sold slide rules made by the Roos Company (and others).
Wartime model 1462 was particularly popular. When the war ended Post
asked Hemmi to make a rule with the same scale set (T, DF [ CF, CIF, CI,
C ] D, S, ST and LL0, LL00, A [B, K, L, C] LL3, LL2, LL1). The result
was the very popular Post model 1462H, "Postrig." In 1951 Post expanded
the number of scales (and the size of the rule) to LL0, LL/0, K, DF [ CF,
CIF, CI, C ] D, R1, R2, L and LL/1, LL/2, LL/3 [T T,
Sec T ST, COS S, C] D, LL3, LL2, LL1. Hemmi mae the rules for Post (and
Hughes-Owens in Canada). Post sold this rule as model 1460 "Versalog;"
Hughes-Owens sold it as model 1777, also "Versalog."
In addition to the rules made for Post, Hemmi made some for sale under their
own name in Japan. These rules were marked "Hemmi model 258" with no
Post or Hughes-Owens markings. But before any of the Hemmi 258s were
actually sold, Hemmi changed their mind and replaced them with Hemmi
model 259 for mechanical engineers. All the model 258 rules were
recalled from jobbers and dealers; Post or Hughes-Owens marking were added
and they were shipped to North America. As nearly as I can tell, no
Hemmi model 258 rules were actually sold in Japan. However, Hemmi clearly
intended to do so; a few of the dual-marked Hemmi 258 rules are in Hemmi's
standard two-piece green pasteboard case with price stickers in yen.