Squaring the circle

Abstract

Word Games Word association has become fashionable: “if you were an animal, what would you be?” Largely, apart from as a word game, the concept is a job interview gimmick of little scientifically proven significance. However, I do subconsciously make word associations with certain slide rule makers. Pickett is always remembered as the maker of the slide rule that went to the moon with the Apollo missions. But idiosyncratically certain shapes of slide rules are, for me, synonymous with a particular make of slide rule. For any circular model the Dutch maker ALRO always springs into mind. Anything duplex and I think of the German maker Faber-Castell and for any drum type, the Swiss maker LOGA. That just leaves the rectilinear models. These I always associate with the German maker Nestler. So when I came across a circular Nestler it struck me as odd.