City of Armadale - History House > Records

MATHEMATICAL CALCULATOR SLIDE RULE CLOSED CARRY CASE

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Overview

This is the cover box for the Slide rule. It is black in colour with sticky tape on each end. There are 2 parts to the box. The text on the box is [>W & G< / DUALFACE / TRIGONOMETRICAL / SLIDE RULE / MODEL 476].

Historical information

This drawing tool was used by Jurgen Gossman in the 1980s and 1990s when he was a town planner and later a member of the planning department in the City of Armadale. These tools were used to create hand drawn technical plans for subdivisions, drainage systems, roads and other engineering tasks. In the mid to late 1990s the need to use these tools was slowly replaced by computer programs. Staff would have been trained in how to use these tools as they were gaining their engineering degrees.
This slide rule is part of a collection of calculating instruments. It is the primary instrument for calculation in professions such as engineering and surveying and was invented in the 17th century by William Oughtred of Cambridge. However, it was not until around 1850 that the slide rule became more commonplace. Since then, the slide rule has taken many forms. This object was made in Australia by W&G. The company was formed during the 1930s to make gramaphone records but during the Second World War, they started making slide rules. As with many manual implements used in trade, the importance of the slide rule began to diminish when digital electronic calculators became the norm.
Since the establishment of local governments across Western Australian in 1871, they have been responsible for the designing and construction of local roads and drains. They also quickly became responsible for town planning, meaning staff with the skills to create accurate drawings have always been needed. The tool represents a manual skill that was essential for council staff who worked in the planning department that has now been replaced by computer programs.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-COA2015.15D

Themes

People
Social History

Material

Cardboard

Width

45 mm

Height or length

350 mm

Inscriptions and markings

mark on lid [>W & G< / DUALFACE / TRIGONOMETRICAL / SLIDE RULE / MODEL 476]

Keywords

Model 476

DUALFACE TRIGONOMETRICAL SLIDE RULE

W & G

City of Armadale

Statement of significance

This object is part of a collection of technical drawing tools that were used to create highly accurate and detailed hand drawn technical plans. These tools have now been replaced with computer programs and the skills required to use this collection is slowly being lost.

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

City of Armadale - History House

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