![ARRL Lightning Calculator Type B Modified, front (Joseph Birsa) - RF Cafe](images2/arrl-lightning-calculator-type-b-joseph-birsa-front_small.jpg) ![ARRL Lightning Calculator Type B Modified, back (Joseph Birsa) - RF Cafe](images2/arrl-lightning-calculator-type-b-joseph-birsa-back_small.jpg)
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) sold a variety of these
"Lightning Calculator" slide rules in the days before electronic calculators. This
"Type B" version (copyright 1932, W.P. Koechel) calculates Ohm's Laws values
for resistance, voltage, current, and power. As shown here, it indicates an alignment
of 1 V, 1 A, and 1 Ω. The Lightning Calculators" were rather
large at 8½" wide by 11" high. Being the size of a sheet of paper, it is
surprising they did not come with holes for a 3-ring binder. There were six varieties
of "Lightning
Calculators," as shown in the 1939 QST magazine advertisement. Thanks to
Joe Birsa (N3TTE) for the donation - Added October 19, 2020
![Shure Brothers Reactance Slide Rule - RF Cafe](images2/shure-brothers-reactance-slide-rule_small.jpg)
![Instructions Shure Brothers Reactance Slide Rule - RF Cafe](images2/shure-brothers-reactance-slide-rule-instructions_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (copyright 1957)
Added July 6, 2017
![JFD Mfg. Co. Stroboscopic Disc - RF Cafe](images2/jfd-stroboscopic-pattern_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (circa 1950s)
Added July 6, 2017
![itron Reciprocal Calculator - RF Cafe](images2/itron-reciprocal-calculator_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (copyright 1968)
Added July 6, 2017
![Naval Surface Warfare Center: Electric Field Slide Rule (side 1) - RF Cafe](images2/electric-field-calculator-cardboard-nswc-neil-b-2_small.jpg)
![Naval Surface Warfare Center: Electric Field Slide Rule (side 1) - RF Cafe](images2/electric-field-calculator-cardboard-nswc-neil-b-1_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (copyright 1991)
![Honeywell Signal Level Conversion Slide Rule Wheel - RF Cafe](images2/signal-level-calculator-cardboard-honeywell-neil-b-1_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (Annapolis, MD, was
my childhood home town)
![Flam & Russell: Radar Cross-Section Cardboard Slide Rule (side 1) - RF Cafe](images2/radar-cross-section-calculator-cardboard-flam-russel-neil-b-2_small.jpg)
![Flam & Russell: Radar Cross-Section Cardboard Slide Rule (side 2) - RF Cafe](images2/antenna-height-calculator-cardboard-flam-russel-neil-b-1_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (copyright 1968)
![muRata: Dial-a-Bead Selector Wheel (side A) - RF Cafe](images2/dial-a-bead-calculator-cardboard-murata-neil-b-2_small.jpg)
![muRata: Dial-a-Bead Selector Wheel (side B) - RF Cafe](images2/dial-a-bead-calculator-cardboard-murata-neil-b-1_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation
![HP 9000 Series 200 Memory Configuration Wheel - RF Cafe](images2/hp-9000-series-200-memory-cardboard-slide-rule_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation
![HP 9000 Series 300 Memory Configuration Wheel - RF Cafe](images2/hp-9000-series-300-memory-cardboard-slide-rule_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation
![AILTECH: Noise Slide Rule (front) - RF Cafe](images2/Ailtech-Noise-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-2_small.jpg)
![AILTECH: Noise Slide Rule (back) - RF Cafe](images2/Ailtech-Noise-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-1_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation (copyright 1973)
![Andrew: Heliax Slide Rule - RF Cafe](images2/Andrew-Heliax-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-1_small.jpg)
![](images2/Andrew-Heliax-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation
![inmet: Gain Equalizer & Conversion Calculator (front) - RF Cafe](images2/Inmet-Gain-Equalizer-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-1_small.jpg)
![inmet: Gain Equalizer & Conversion Calculator (rear) - RF Cafe](images2/Inmet-Gain-Equalizer-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation (copyright 1999)
![Miteq: Mixer Spur Analyzer Calculator (front) - RF Cafe](images2/Miteq-Mixer-Spur-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-1_small.jpg)
![Miteq: Mixer Spur Analyzer Calculator (rear) - RF Cafe](images2/Miteq-Mixer-Spur-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation
![Tektronix: Time Domain Reflectometer Slide Rule (front) - RF Cafe](images2/Tektronix-TDR-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-1_small.jpg)
![Tektronix: Time Domain Reflectometer Slide Rule (rear) - RF Cafe](images2/Tektronix-TDR-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation (copyright 1972)
Thanks to Joe Birsa (N3TTE) for the donation (copyright
1991)
Thanks to Joe Birsa (N3TTE) for the donation (copyright
1977)
![EM Laboratories: U.S. ↔ Metric Conversions - RF Cafe](images/em-laboratories-us-metric-conversions_small.jpg)
Thanks to Gary Steinhour for the donation (copyright
1975)
![RF Cafe - FXR (Microlab/FXR) Slide Rule / Smith Chart (this is the Smith Chart side)](images/fxr-slide-rule-1_small.jpg) ![RF Cafe - FXR (Microlab/FXR) Slide Rule / Smith Chart](images/fxr-slide-rule-2_small.jpg)
Smith Chart Side
![RF Cafe - FXR (Microlab/FXR) Slide Rule / Smith Chart (this is the slide rule side)](images/fxr-slide-rule-3_small.jpg) ![RF Cafe - FXR (Microlab/FXR) Slide Rule / Smith Chart](images/fxr-slide-rule-4_small.jpg)
Slide Rule Side Thanks to Gary Steinhour
for the donation)
![Sage Wireline/Wirepac Calculator](images/Sage-Computer-1_small.JPG)
![Sage Wireline/Wirepac Calculator](images/Sage-Computer-2_small.JPG)
Sage Wireline/Wirepac Calculator (copyright 1992)
I have a spreadsheet available for the
Wireline
Calculator.
![Andrew Microwave Antenna System Computer](images/Andrew-Computer-1_small.JPG)
![Andrew Microwave Antenna System Computer](images/Andrew-Computer-2_small.JPG)
Andrew Microwave Antenna System Computer (copyright
1994)
|
![Nuclear Bomb Effects Computer - RF Cafe](images2/nuclear-bomb-effects-computer_small1.jpg)
Thanks to Ken H. for the photos of his
Nuclear Bomb
Effects Computer (likely the original 1957 version), produced by The Lovelace Foundation and
EG&G. "This Nuclear
Bomb Effects Computer has been compiled in cooperation with the
Atomic Energy Commission,
Division of Biology and Medicine, and Lovelace Foundation for Civil
Effects Test Operations AEC-Biology And Medicine Contract AT(29-1)1242." Quickly
and handily calculates Max. Fireball Radius, Height for Minimal Fallout,
Apparent Crater Radius and Depth, and even Radiation Levels with 1st, 2nd, and
3rd degree burns! Who wouldn't have wanted one of these back in the 1960s while
hunkering down in an underground bunker or beneath your school desk while
thermonuclear ordinance was exploding overhead? Added April
11, 2022
![Varian Power Amplifier Calculator - RF Cafe](images2/varian-power-amplifier-calculator_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (copyright 1991)
Added July 6, 2017
![Tecom Industries Antenna Calculations Slide Rule - RF Cafe](images2/tecom-antenna-calculations-slide-rule_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (copyright 1976)
Added July 6, 2017
![Scientific Atlanta Antenna Communications Systems Calculator - RF Cafe](images2/scientific-atlanta-antenna-communications-system-calculator_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (copyright 1977)
Added July 6, 2017
![REA Magnet Wire Co. Heavy Formvar Magnet Wire Slide Chart - RF Cafe](images2/rea-magnet-wire-calculator_small.jpg)
![Instructions REA Magnet Wire Heavy Formvar Magnet Wire Slide Chart - RF Cafe](images2/scientific-atlanta-antenna-comms-system-calculator-instructions_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (circa 1950s)
Added July 6, 2017
![The Helipot Corporation Electrical Slide Rule - RF Cafe](images2/helipot-electrical-slide-rule_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (copyright 1951)
Added July 6, 2017
![Scientific Atlanta: Antenna Calculator Slide Rule (side 1) - RF Cafe](images2/antenna-calculator-cardboard-scientific-atlanta-neil-b-1_small.jpg)
![Scientific Atlanta: Antenna Calculator Slide Rule (side 2) - RF Cafe](images2/antenna-calculator-cardboard-scientific-atlanta-neil-b-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (copyright 1968)
![Pacific Automation Products: Copper Wire Slide Rule (side 1) - RF Cafe](images2/copper-wire-calculator-cardboard-pacific-automation-neil-b-1_small.jpg)
![Pacific Automation Products: Copper Wire Slide Rule (side 2) - RF Cafe](images2/copper-wire-calculator-cardboard-pacific-automation-neil-b-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (looks a little like
the Starfleet Command
logo)
![Hughes Electron Dynamics Division: Millimeter Wave System Calculator (side 1) - RF Cafe](images2/mm-wave-system-calculator-cardboard-hughes-neil-b-1_small.jpg)
![Hughes Electron Dynamics Division: Millimeter Wave System Calculator (side 2) - RF Cafe](images2/mm-wave-system-calculator-cardboard-hughes-neil-b-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (copyright 1975)
![Instrument Specialties Company: Shielding Design Guide (side 1) Slide Rule](images2/shielding-calculator-cardboard-instrument-specialties-neil-b-1_small.jpg)
![Instrument Specialties Company: Shielding Design Guide (side 2) Slide Rule](images2/shielding-calculator-cardboard-instrument-specialties-neil-b-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Neil Blaho for the donation (copyright 1982)
![MegaPhase: Watts & Voltage Conversion Slide Rule (front) - RF Cafe](images2/megaphase-conversion-cardboard-slide-rule-1_small.jpg)
![MegaPhase: Watts & Voltage Conversion Slide Rule (back) - RF Cafe](images2/megaphase-conversion-cardboard-slide-rule-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation (copyright 2009)
![HP: Reflectometer & Mismatch Error Limits Calculator (front) - RF Cafe](images2/HP-Reflectometer-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-1_small.jpg)
![HP: Reflectometer & Mismatch Error Limits Calculator (back) - RF Cafe](images2/HP-Reflectometer-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation (copyright 1976)
![Amphenol RF Division: Smith Chart Slide Rule (front) - RF Cafe](images2/Amphenol-Cardboard-Smith-Chart-2_small.jpg)
![Amphenol RF Division: Smith Chart Slide Rule (rear) - RF Cafe](images2/Amphenol-Cardboard-Smith-Chart-1_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation
![Concise: Chemical Element Slide Rule - RF Cafe](images2/Concise-Chemistry-Cardboard-Slide-Rule_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation (copyright 1968)
![MDL: Rigid Waveguide Data Calculator (front) - RF Cafe](images2/MDL-Waveguide-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-1_small.jpg)
![MDL: Rigid Waveguide Data Calculator (back) - RF Cafe](images2/MDL-Waveguide-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation (copyright 1995)
![Rogers Corporation: High Frequency Substrate Selector (rear) - RF Cafe](images2/Rogers-PCB-Selector-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-1_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation (copyright 2010)
![Roos instruments: RF & Reactance Calculator (front) - RF Cafe](images2/Roos-Reactance-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-1_small.jpg)
![Roos instruments: RF & Reactance Calculator (rear) - RF Cafe](images2/Roos-Reactance-Cardboard-Slide-Rule-2_small.jpg)
Thanks to Joe Cahak for the donation (copyright 1995)
Thanks to Joe Birsa (N3TTE) for the donation (copyright
1986)
![The Ballentine Rule - RF Cafe](images/ballantine-rule-volts-db-power-level-ratio-conversion_small.jpg)
Thanks to Gary Steinhour for the donation (copyright
1953)
![Tel-Instrument Electronics Corp. AC Power Slide Rule - RF Cafe](images/tel-instruments-ac-power-slide-rule_small.jpg)
Thanks to Gary Steinhour for the donation (copyright
1964)
![M/A-COM VSWR Calculator](images/MA-COM-Computer-1_small.JPG)
![M/A-COM VSWR Calculator](images/MA-COM-Computer-2_small.JPG)
(copyright 1983)
![RF Cafe - APN-85](images/apn-85-pressure-reduction-calculator-sea-level-reduction_small.jpg) ![RF Cafe - APN-85](images/apn-85-pressure-reduction-calculator-altimeter-setting_small.jpg)
I. Sea-Level Reduction (left), II. Altimeter Setting (right)
These were used by air traffic controllers back in the Stone Age This particular
model was auctioned off when the
Bedrock Airport
closed. Thanks to Don Hicks for the donation
![GE Mobile Radio Range and Transmitter Power Calculator - Front Side](images/GE-Mobile-Radio-Range-TX-Power-Calculator-front_small.jpg)
![GE Mobile Radio Range and Transmitter Power Calculator - Back Side](images/GE-Mobile-Radio-Range-TX-Power-Calculator-back_small.jpg)
GE Mobile Radio, Range and Transmitter Power Calculator (copyright
1977) Thanks to Alan Kealey for the donation!
|