K2 Performance/Class Horse Race Wagering Calculator
date: label: date made
content: 1972
name: label: maker
content: K2 Publishing Corp.
notes: label: Description
content: This plastic circular slide rule has a white base, with three concentric logarithmic scales, all numbered from 1 to 50. The outer scale is labeled “SHOW (3rd)”; each unit has six subdivisions. The middle scale is labeled “PLACE (2nd)”; each unit has three subdivisions. The innermost scale is labeled “RACES WON”; units are not subdivided. There is a clear plastic hairline indicator.
label: Description
content: A smaller gold disc lies atop the white one. It is pivoted at the center and has a logarithmic scale, running from 1 to 95 and marked: TOTAL RACES ENTERED. Two more logarithmic scales are visible through a window in the gold disc. These provide the total purses of the races the animal had entered and, finally, the performance-class factor rating. According to the donor, if F=number of first place finishes of a horse, S=number of seconds, T = number of thirds, R = number of races entered, and M= the total money won, the scale calculates the number [[100F + 33.333S + 16.666T]/R] + 1.12 M.
label: Description
content: The gold disc is marked: K2 (/) PERFORMANCE/CLASS CALCULATOR (/) COPYRIGHT 1972 K2 PUBLISHING CORP. Accompanying the calculator are a paper instruction booklet, a sheet of paper giving the formula calculated by the machine, and a computer printout showing a similar calculation. The 20-page booklet was also copyrighted in 1972 and indicates the method can be used for thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racing. K2 Publishing Corporation was located at 475 Northern Blvd., Great Neck, N.Y., where an office building was built in 1967.
label: Description
content: Everything is stored in a black plastic case with a clear plastic front. Another slide rule for handicapping horse races is 1998.3050.02.
label: Description
content: Reference: Tom Wyman, "More About Slide Chart Devices," <i>Journal of the Oughtred Society</i> 16, no. 2 (2007): 15–18.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, Great Neck
topic: label: Subject
content: Rule, Calculating
label: Subject
content: Horse Racing
label: Subject
content: Mathematics
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
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content: Science & Mathematics
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content: Slide Rules
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Edward C. Klauck
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1998.3050.01
label: nonaccession number
content: 1998.3050
label: catalog number
content: 1998.3050.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: calculating rule with instructions
label: Object Name
content: slide rule with instructions
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (part material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (part material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 16 cm x 16 cm x .3 cm; 6 5/16 in x 6 5/16 in x 1/8 in