Description

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SLIDE RULE, Japanese, c. 1960, signed “Hemmi, Japan, No. 257.” The 12-1/2″ (32 cm) long rule is made of laminate over bamboo, metal bound, and fitted with double-sided sliding glass cursor. The two sides of rule and slider are divided with a total of 23 scales, including gauge marks for determination of atomic and molecular weights, temperature, conversion scales, pressure unit conversions, molar / weight / volume fractions, adiabatic compression and expansion, etc. In addition there are the standard scales of multiplication, roots, logarithms, exponents, etc. The outfit is in near new condition, complete with instruction manual and leather case. The Hemmi Slide Rule Company was established in 1895 (first as Henmi Jirou & Co.) They became a major manufacturer of both standard and specialized slide rules, introducing the model 257 in 1954. But within 10 years the introduction of electronic calculators initiated the precipitous decline in slide rule manufacture, and the Hemmi company eventually turned to electronics.