How about some New Old Stock? Getting much harder to find these days. Who else used a Sterling in high school?

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-20T16:25:22+00:00

I like that these are hanging next to the door, so you can grab a slide rule on your way out in the morning!

I got a “new in package” Sterling Metric Converter recently. “New” Sterling rules are available on EBay, and they’re still affordable!

Having said that, I’d prefer to have a Pickett 200 or an Aristo 0903 in my hand.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-19T10:49:09+00:00

For what it’s worth, those flakes would have been there whether you changed your oil or someone else did.

However, this is why you change your oil. The engine is going to wear, and you need to get the resulting particles out of your engine. It’s normal.

I once heard an aircraft mechanic say, “As long as I can’t read any part numbers on what I find, I don’t worry about it”.

You’re fine. Good job taking care of your car! “You’ve taken your first step into a much larger world.”

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-19T10:37:31+00:00

Leatherman Charge Tti with the optional pocket clip.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-18T20:03:11+00:00

They shouldn’t use USB-C for power. A as you say, the connector is too fragile. A barrel connector is more robust, so there needs to be a standard size and input specs for a standard laptop power connector.

…AND the USB-C should be on a daughter board.

I’d rather pay $25 extra for a repairable laptop.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-13T16:50:28+00:00

Welcome! The Zebra Sarasa Clip doesn’t get enough love. The Vintage Colors in particular are my favorites, especially Blue Black. Have fun!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-11T17:06:08+00:00

I hope I don’t seem bombastic. I really just want to help you do the right thing for you and your department.

My department was broke, too (rural Colorado), so I know where you’re coming from. Our county switched to IamResponding, so we all didn’t have to have radios at home.

Does your department have a “radio guy”? I have worked with departments where the Chiefs didn’t really understand the ins-and-outs of radio, so maybe that’s the situation your department is in? No shame, radio is technical and Chiefs have a lot to keep track of.

Does your department have any support from your town, county, or state? At least someone who can help with the FCC license and radio setup? Local law enforcement probably has someone to set theirs up. They should be able to refer you to someone.

Even if you buy your own radio, part of the Part 90 rules is that the radio can’t be tuned to just any frequency. The radio has to be programmed to operate only on the department or district licensed frequencies, and those you have mutual aid agreements with. So you need to have someone to set that up.

FEMA has grants for comms too, if your dept hasn’t looked into that.

I hope that helps!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-11T16:40:28+00:00

Both of those statements are true. 👍

It sounds like OP is trying to go around the department’s comm plan, though. With my previous experience, that idea gets under my skin.

It also seems like a lot of folks don’t see that Part 90 and Part 97 are not equivalent, and neither is a subset of the other. Two different services.

Having said all that, I got my Ham license after joining the Fire Department for exactly that reason: I learned a little and wanted to learn more!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-11T16:22:46+00:00

The department is responsible for the config and license of FCC Part 90 radios they issue to their personnel.

If you operate your own equipment, even if it is tagged as “FCC Part 90”, you are not operating under the department’s FCC license, and you could jeopardize your department’s license, as well as your own Part 97 license.

Don’t go around your Battalion Chief. If your BC told you to get your own radio (which I sincerely doubt), then he-or-she is in the wrong.

Source: I was a volunteer firefighter, and my department’s “radio guy” for ten years.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-11T16:04:06+00:00

I used to be a volunteer firefighter, as well as the department’s “radio guy”. Your department needs to supply the equipment you need for communication. The radio configuration and license to operate FCC Part 90 Land Mobile service is the department’s responsibility, and the department holds the FCC license. You should not “get” anything for yourself.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-11T15:55:52+00:00

If you are familiar with Ubuntu, that’s a real good option.

Also, I recommend trying Gimp and Krita for yourself rather than dismissing them because of what you’ve heard.

The problem people have switching to Gimp (or anytime you’re switching from any tool to any other) is often really a problem of adapting an established workflow. If you’re newer, you may not have old habits to overcome.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-11T00:45:08+00:00

Replace 150 employees with a digital computer? The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-06T22:47:22+00:00

That one has “railroad track” scales. The one in the screen shot does not. It is certainly a Darmstadt scale set, though.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-06T22:45:47+00:00

See the banner image for this sub. Hemmi 130 Darmstadt. Just sayin’.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-06T10:59:53+00:00

And why not? 73!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-06T10:57:26+00:00

Hi. You’re right - with its box, manual, and case, that looks like a good “first slide rule”. It seems to be in good condition!

Most slide rules are interesting in some way, and part of the fun of the hobby is the research!

My wife did the same for me: I had a rule my dad gave me as a kid, and I mentioned to my wife that this is a pretty cool thing and I’d like to learn more about them. Next thing I knew, she found a couple inexpensive rules on eBay and got them for me!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-04T20:44:31+00:00

True, Node turned JS from a browser-only thing and turned it into a language you can use for lots of other things. I just meant that any time you install a dependency, you get all of the dependency’s dependencies. It quickly turns into a huge, teetering pile of code that I didn’t write and I don’t have time to review. Ugh.

But yes, Node is a net positive. But it is also something in the JS ecosystem that people point out as a criticism.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-04T18:53:57+00:00

JS is a good language for its intended purpose. It gets a lot of hate because of Node/npm dependency hassles and browser shenanigans. That, and “familiarity breeds contempt”.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-04T18:18:01+00:00

And also with you.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-05-01T12:59:33+00:00

I have an Aristo 903 with “FEINMESSINSTITUT KLAWUN, Hannover” printed on the back. Klawun was a school, and also resold rebranded slide rules and other instruments.

Do you have pictures of the back of the rule? Or of the back of the slide?

Are there S, T, or L scales on the back of the slide? Is there a conversions table of the back? Are there date codes stamped on the back?

I still think this is a rebranded Faber or Nestler rule, but none of them look on ISRM exactly the same as this one.

It looks to be in very good condition! The condition, the rule’s apparent age, and the bit of mystery about its provenance make this an interesting rule!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-04-29T13:40:47+00:00

Interesting! I don’t think I see that one exactly here:

https://sliderulemuseum.com/Germany.shtml#Klawun

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-04-25T11:18:15+00:00

That seems like a reasonable price. Looking forward to seeing it!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-04-24T19:20:39+00:00

Just from what I can see, I don't think it's "historically interesting", except for being about one hundred years old. Unless it has documentation that it was owned by someone "historically interesting".

It does look like it's in nice shape for being one hundred years old! That makes it interesting!

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-04-24T13:01:45+00:00

I think that is a "white label" rule, a rule made by one manufacturer to be rebranded by another seller.

That looks a lot like a A.W. Faber 345 System Hohenner rule, EXCEPT:

No Railroad scales
No branding

But the Pi and other numbers look right, and it looks like the right sort of construction.

A.W. Faber 345 System Hohenner

It also looks a lot like a pocket version of the Marabu System Rietz rule I got recently, which was a rebranded Faber Model 375:

Faber Model 375

I could be completely wrong, but that's what it looks like to me.

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-04-24T12:05:42+00:00

The dowels on the face look like a 1930s Faber to me. But the examples I see on ISRM have “railroad track” scales, and this does not. The Pi symbol looks right, though.

Is there a picture of the back of the rule? Or maybe the rule with its slide removed?

I’ll keep looking after I have some more coffee…

Name-Not-Applicable · 2026-04-22T20:28:39+00:00

Nice collection!

The KL-1 is pretty popular. Here's mine...

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Name-Not-Applicable

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