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Subject: Re: Significant digits in a float?
From: William Ray Wing <wrw@mac.com>
In-reply-to: <5361CA91.30401@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 01 May 2014 11:53:51 -0400
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On May 1, 2014, at 12:16 AM, Mark H Harris <harrismh777@gmail.com> =
wrote:

> On 4/30/14 10:56 PM, Paul Rubin wrote:
>=20
>> There is a nice Javascript simulation of the N4-ES here:
>>=20
>> http://www.antiquark.com/sliderule/sim/n4es/virtual-n4es.html
>>=20
>=20
> Thank you!
>=20
> The N4-ES and the N4-T (mine) are essentially the same rule. The N4-ES =
on the site is yellow (mine is white) and the site rule indicates Picket =
& Eckel Inc. (that's where the E comes from)  Also the the ES states =
Chicage Ill USA where the T states Made in USA.
>=20

I=92ve resisted - but finally have to jump into this discussion...

Picket used to talk a lot about their yellow background being optimized =
for the color the human eye was most sensitive to and therefore produced =
the sharpest focus and allowed the most precise reading of the scales.  =
Nice theory, but at least on MY Picket rule the scales were printed not =
engraved and the result negated any possible advantage the color might =
have given.

I=92m surprised no one has jumped in to defend/tout the Dietzgen slide =
rules (which I always thought were the ultimate).  Mine (their Vector =
Log Log) is one of their Microglide series that had teflon rails =
inserted in the body and is still totally stick-free after nearly 50 =
years.

Taking it one step further, I _ALSO_ have a Curta Type II calculator =
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curta_calculator - which still operates as =
smoothly as it did the day I bought it.

-Bill

> The only technical difference is the T scale (which is folded-expanded =
on both). On the ES the T scale is listed only once in the margin.  On =
the N4-T the T scale is listed 'twice'!--  once for each part of the =
fold.  Well, that gives (2) scales instead of one --for T...  increasing =
the number of scales on the rule from 34 to 35... if I'm counting right. =
 Which makes the N4-T more valuable... supposedly.  I don't plan are =
parting with it... till I croak, then my son (who is studying =
engineering this fall) will inherit it...  heh   he won't have a clue =
what to do with it !
>=20
> The simulated rule on the site above is fabulous... especially if =
viewed from a large wide LED.  ... simply fabulouso/    :)
>=20
>=20
>=20
> marcus
> --=20
> https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list