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Otis King Model L.
Although described as a calculator (see top photograph) this is really a cylindrical slide rule. By forming it as a cylinder the effective length of the slide rule scale is 66 inches long.
153 mm closed, 262 mm extended, x 31 mm diameter
(6" closed, 10.3" extended, x 1.25" diameter).
"British made throughout".
Carbic Limited,
171, Seymour Place,
London.
There were two versions of this calculator - the Model K and the Model L which had an additional scale for determining logarihms.
An advertisement for the model L in February 1971 gives a price of 85s (£4-25p [about $10-50]), which was a fraction of the cost of an electronic calculator (see Bowmar 901B/Commodore C110 at £79 [approx. $195]).
One of the
last advertisements for an Otis King calculator (actually the model K) in August 1973 gives a price of £4-65p [about $11-50], which was now comparable to the cost of the cheapest electronic calculator.
The story of Otis King calculators is told in "Otis King Calculators: A History of Production, 1919-1977", by and published by Colin Barnes, ISBN 0 9535039 0 9 - see the United Kingdom Slide Rule Circle's site at http://www.sliderules.org.uk/publications/publications03.htm.
These calculators were popular for many years and continued to sell into the era of electronic calculators due to their very low cost.
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