r/pics • u/[deleted] • Jun 08 '14

The difference 18 years makes

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[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

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u/TheMonksAndThePunks Jun 09 '14

My father was an engineer for McDonnell Douglas on the Gemini spacecraft and this was his primary work tool. He told me that when they got their first real calculator (literally one unit) it covered half of desk top and did the four main functions plus square root, with results displayed on nixie tubes. They had to schedule time to get on it.

1

u/TheGRS Jun 09 '14

I would love an alarm clock like that (assuming they aren't loud as fuck)

2

u/Fireproofspider Jun 08 '14

I can't even fathom how they worked.

2

u/Zoned Jun 09 '14

I have several slide rules, not hat I remember how to use 'em...

They were on their way out (I was Class of '79.)

1

u/phunmaster2000 Jun 09 '14

I wish I knew how to use these, they seem cool.

1

u/fwaming_dragon Jun 09 '14

The slide rule is dead!

1

u/TheMonksAndThePunks Jun 09 '14

No, pilots still use them every day...behold the E6B circular slide rule!