Collection of pages from K&E catalogs for the 4056 family
Description:
The 4056 family of slide rules is of the Mannheim type. The 4056s were constructed on a boxwood frame with markings directly on the boxwood. This first rule had a brass indicator
The 4056 had two distinctly different issues. The rule as seen from 1901 to 1922 was a version of the 4054 with a plane wood finish.
The scale set:
inches | A = B C = D | cm
= S L T =
The rule as seen from 1936 to 1952 was a version of the subset of the 4055 with a cheaper cursor.
The scale set:
A = B C = D
= S L T =
History:
Tthe 4056 family first appeared in the 1901 catalog . The last mention of the 4056 is in the 1952 price list. The following is a brief history of the 4056 family of slide rules as is told in the K&E catalogs that are available at this time. Exact timing is not possible because of the time between catalogs.
First Edition: The first edition had the scales of a 4041 with the inch and centimeter scales on the side. The frame of the rule was made of polished boxwood and not adjustable.
1903 Catalog page
- 1901 -- The 4056 was first shown with a "brass" indicator.
- 1909 -- The cursor description is changed to a "metal" indicator.
- 1915 -- The cursor description is changed to a "glass" indicator
- 1922 -- The first version of the 4056 was last shown in the 1922 catalog.
Links to catalog pages for the first edition of the 4056 family of slide rules:
Second Edition: The second edition had the scales of a 4041 also but without the inch and centimeter scales on the side. The frame of the rule was made of boxwood with a paper coating on the surface and not adjustable. The rule was indentical to the 4054 of that time frame except that the 4056 had the paper coated surface and a less expensive formed metal framed cursor.
1936 catalog page
- 1936 - The second version of the 4056 was introduced.
- 1952 - The 1952 price list mentions the 4056 but shows "temp disc." instead of a price.
- 1954 - The 4056 was not shown after 1952.
Links to catalog pages for the second edition of the 4056 family of slide rules:
Scans: Scans of 4056 Family of Slide Rules