5.15 Pickett, USA

The Pickett Company (originally Pickett and Eckel) began in Chicago near the end of World War II. Their original metal slide rules used magnesium to obtain a lighter rule. However these rules had trouble with humidity and often became difficult to slide. Pickett began using aluminum alloys around 1950 and became a very popular brand in the United States. The “Eye-Saver” (ES) rules have a characteristic yellow color, but white counterparts (T) were still maintained as well. Their last slide rule was manufactured in August 1976.

The Pickett slide rule was a popular choice for space flight during the U.S. space missions leading up to and including the moon landings. See the short vignette Rules to the Moon.

Pickett Deci-Point (Model 1)
Pickett Deci-Point (Model 1)
Pickett Model 2
Pickett Model 2
Pickett Model 3-T
Pickett Model 3-T
Pickett Model 4-ES
Pickett Model 4-ES
Pickett 500-T
Pickett 500-T
Pickett ELEC N-515-T
Pickett ELEC N-515-T
Pickett Executive X-3
Pickett Executive X-3

Total number of Pickett slide rules in the collection: 42.

Model Year Serial Typ Mat L0 Case Note
1 1945-46 10085 L Mg 10 yes Deci Point; centered scales and cursor;
2 1946-47 29517 L Mg 10 yes Deci Log Log label; How to Keep Your Deci.Point Slide Rule a Perfect Precision Instrument sheet
1000 1947-49 A075934 L Mg 10 no P&E label
500 1948 B114270 L Mg 10 yes P&E label; fabric cover + plastic case
K-500 1948 B056801 L Mg 10 no P&E label
600 1950 L Mg 5 yes+box early Model 600, good condition; leather case; original plastic bag labeled B885; original box; owner DESEL
901
1950 C504568 L Mg 10 no Very early 901; no L scale; 1/C rather than CI label; Simplex Slide Rule label; Alhambra reference; Label Style 3
1025 1952-1956 L Al 10 box Early model 1025; owner Arthur E Huse, engraved on rule; signed home-made box; engineer for Bosch Arma with many patents related to fuel injection
500-T 1952-54 L Al 10 yes Label style 3; grooved rail
3-T 1953 244 L Al 10 yes Dual Base Log-Log; good condition; nice brown leather case with belt clip
903-T
1954 L Al 10 yes rare Conversion Slide Rule type with gauge marks on back side
N1040-ES 1954 L Al 10 yes Fisher Control Valve Sizing Rule; made for Fisher Governor Co, Marshalltown, Iowa
120
1955 L pl 10 no Trainer, beginner’s rule
20-BASIC
1955 L Al 5 yes Label style 3; Leather case with clip
4-ES 1958 L Al 10 yes + box Log Log Vector Hyperbolic; Label style 4; grooved slide; leather case, box, instructions, warranty, other notes; very good condition
800-ES 1958 L Al 10 yes Log Log Synchro-Scale; die cast braces and cursor
N1010-ES Trig Demonstration
1958 L wd 40 no Demonstration rule; originally used in Michigan high school; 1/2 in x 9 1/2 in x 48 in
14 1958-1962 L Al 10 yes U.S. military rule; well-worn leather case
N-515-T 1958-62 L Al 10 yes Electronics model; leather case, strap – great condition; Cleveland Institute of Electronics
N-515-T 1958-62 L Al 10 yes Electronic; basically new-in-box; leather case, strap – great condition; Cleveland Institute of Electronics
N1006-ES 1958-62 L Al 5 no + box rule, box, instructions; no case
N1010-T TRIG
1958-62 L Al 10 yes black leather case with belt clip; Pickett Inc. Santa Barbara Calif.; K. Stegelman – from daughter
N1010-T TRIG
1958-62 272 L Al 10 yes + box nice black leather case, instruction book, guarantee, original box; 1970 receipt, though logos indicate made earlier; belt clip is missing
600-ES 1959 L Al 5 yes leather case: Electrosolids Corp., Hollywood; cracked cursor
N4-ES 1959 L Al 10 yes Log Log Vector Hyperbolic; Label style 4; leather case
N4-T 1959-1962 L Al 10 yes Log Log Vector Hyperbolic; Label style 4; leather case and belt clip
N1010-T TRIG
1959-62 L Al 10 yes tan leather case; black Pickett logo; nice condition
N-500-ES 1962 L Al 10 yes Label Syle 4, with copyright 1962 mark; leather case with belt clip
N-550-T 1962 L Al 10 yes Warren-Knight Weight Rule 1373-ET; Label Style 3 with copyright 1962
N200-T Trig 1962 L Al 5 yes Black Logo, curved braces, nylon bars, convex lens, no D scale on back; Western Electric Company, Graduate Engineering Education Program on back and on case; owner Thomas H. Nolan graduated from IIT in 1965 in EE, worked for WE 1965-1985 in Naperville, IL, patent for EE circuit, worked on first telephone electronic switching system
N600-T 1962 L Al 5 yes Label Style 4 with 1962 copyright; leather case with clip and pull-extractor; flat lens
101-C 1962-1964 C Al 12 yes+box Box, Case, and How to Use Circular Slice Rules; Data Device Corporation on case
N-500-ES 1962-1964 L Al 10 yes Label Style 5; Mike Lawter on case
N600-ES
1964 L Al 5 yes exact Buzz-Aldrin-type rule
N600-ES
1964 L Al 5 yes exact Buzz-Aldrin-type rule; found in Amazing Grace Elburn, IL
N4-ES 1964-1975 L Al 10 yes Log Log Vector Hyperbolic; Label style 6; leather case
N-500-T 1964-75 L Al 10 yes Label Style 6; leather case
N909-ES 1964-75 L Al 10 yes Label Style 6; metric conv.on back
N3p-T 1966 L Al 5 yes pocket version of Model 3; 32 scales; slide tension spring; very fine leather case with pocket clip; Label Style 6; from original owner Stephen Boyle, engineer, Clinton, MA
80
1970 L pl 10 no basic student trig training/beginner’s rule
N902-ES 1973 L Al 10 yes + box Complete package box, case, instructions; sticker: 5 moon flights on box (price tag, $6.95); Label Style 6
X-3
1975 L Al 10 yes Executive Series Power Log Exponential, Log Log Dual Base; Label style 6; leather case