Keuffel & Esser 4088-3 Polyphase Duplex Slide Rule
date: label: date made
content: 1922-1936
name: label: maker
content: Keuffel & Esser Co.
notes: label: Description
content: This ten-inch mahogany duplex linear slide rule is coated with white celluloid and held together with L-shaped metal end pieces. The front of the base has DF and D scales, with CF, CIF, and C scales on the slide. The right end of the slide is marked in red: < 4088-3 >. The bottom of the base is marked in red: PAT. JUNE 5. '00 DEC.22.'08 KEUFFEL & ESSER CO. N.Y. MADE IN U.S.A. The owner's name is scratched on the slide and on the base: ELLENBERGER.
label: Description
content: The back of the base has K, A, D, and L scales, with B, S, T, and CI scales on the slide. A serial number is at the left end of the slide and on the front edge: 161313. The indicator is frameless glass with white plastic edges and metal screws. One edge is marked: K&E.CO.N.Y. (/) PAT.8.17.15. A cardboard case covered with blue leather is not original to this object and is marked: MICRONTA (/) Made in Germany. It also has an owner's label: Wm. J. Ellenberger.
label: Description
content: Keuffel & Esser Company of New York added a B scale to model 4088-3 in 1922. The indicator was modified in 1936. The serial number suggests a manufacturing date around 1927. Between 1922 and 1936, model 4088-3 sold in a box for $8.50. For instructions, see 1981.0933.04 and 1981.0933.06. Compare this example to MA.318476, MA.318480, and MA.321778.
label: Description
content: William J. Ellenberger (1908–2008) was born in Nashville, Tenn. He enrolled in The George Washington University in 1925, earning BS degrees in electrical engineering (1930) and mechanical engineering (1934). It seems likely that Ellenberger acquired and used this slide rule while he studied at GWU. He went on to work for the Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO), the National Bureau of Standards, and the U.S. Army.
label: Description
content: References: <i>Catalogue of Keuffel & Esser Co.</i>, 36th ed. (New York, 1921), 239; Keuffel & Esser Co., <i>Slide Rules and Calculating Instruments</i> (New York, 1922), 8–9; <i>Catalogue of Keuffel & Esser Co.</i>, 38th ed. (New York, 1936), 314–315; Ed Chamberlain, "Estimating K&E Slide Rule Dates," 27 December 2000, http://www.sphere.bc.ca/test/ke/320-k+e_date2.jpg; accession file.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
label: Subject
content: Rule, Calculating
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 William J. Ellenberger
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1981.0933.03
label: catalog number
content: 1981.0933.03
label: accession number
content: 1981.0933
objectType: label: Object Name
content: calculating rule
label: Object Name
content: slide rule
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: mahogany (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: celluloid (laminate material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (cursor material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (part material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (case material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 2.2 cm x 31 cm x 4 cm; 7/8 in x 12 7/32 in x 1 9/16 in