I have posted this before, but it was buried in a thread of comments.

The "space factor" is a cool part of Pickett's history. The "5 Moon Flights" motif on their packaging is good marketing. I have a Pickett box with "3 Moon Flights" on it. That must come from a narrow window of time.

I have had a pretty close look at the famous picture of Buzz Aldrin asleep on Gemini XII with a slide rule floating next to him at https://tothemoon.ser.asu.edu/gallery/Gemini/12/Hasselblad%20Super-Wide%20Camera%2070%20mm#S66-62984_G12-S

I think that one is a 1006 rather than a 600. I have attached a comparison picture, with an N600, an N1006, and Aldrin's slide rule with its contrast turned up a bit.

It looks like we are looking at the side without the logo, and it looks like the near end of the slide has "Pickett All Metal Slide Rules", which the 600 does not have. And the slide looks like it has CF, CIF, CI, and C scales, and the bottom rail has D and L.

I'm not saying Aldrin didn't take a 600 to the moon. I just don't think that's a 600 in the Gemini XII picture. What do you think?

Image Credits: NASA and International Slide Rule Museum. I used the ISRM pictures because they are clearer than my pictures of my own 600 and 1006.

#sliderules