Pickett N600-ES Pocket Slide Rule

Description

A version of this slide rule is said to have gone to the moon with Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11. Because of this, it’s known sometimes as the “Apollo Rule.” This, of course, has made it very collectible, whereas it becomes hard to find a copy for less than $50…MUCH more if it comes with the original box, case, and documentation.

Pickett N600-ES front Pickett N600-ES back

Specifications

Sample #: 1
Type: Linear
Model No.: N600-ES
Model Name: Dual Base Log Log
Maker: Pickett
Country: USA
Material: Aluminum
Scale Length: 5 in.
Date: 1958-1962
Condition: C4 (like new, but with case only)

Scales

Front side: LL1, LL01, A [B, ST, T, S, C] D, DI, K

Rear side: LL2, LL02, DF [CF, Ln, L, CI, C] D, LL3, LL03

Assessment

This is one of the smallest rules I own. It has a durable feel, albeit the numbers can be a bit hard to read. The cursor does feature a convex lens, which magnifies the numbers at the hair-line ever so slightly.

Like most typical rules, I don’t care much for the eye-saver yellow as I don’t find them easy to read, especially the red fonts. Even so, it’s an iconic slide rule.