5.10 Keuffel and Esser, USA

Keuffel and Esser was one of the first American firms to import slide rules from Europe, and became the first major company in the United States to manufacture slide rules starting in 1891. They remained a giant in the field throughout the next century. Based in Hoboken, New Jersey, eventually with branches in Chicago and elsewhere in the U.S, the “K&E” rules were very popular among engineers and scientists, as well as professionals in the fields of banking, commerce, and other industries. In 1976 K&E manufactured their last slide rule, which was immediately donated to the Smithsonian Institution.

A separate listing of K&E rules in the collection in order of Model Number can be found in K&E Rules by Model.

Early Keuffel and Esser Mannheim rule, c. 1903.
Early Keuffel and Esser Mannheim rule, c. 1903.
Keuffel and Esser 4013, Thacher’s Calculating Instrument, 1907.
Keuffel and Esser 4013, Thacher’s Calculating Instrument, 1907.
Keuffel and Esser Deci-Lon, 1969.
Keuffel and Esser Deci-Lon, 1969.


Total number of K&E slide rules in the collection: 88.