You Know You Are Old When

[ultrarunner]

It cost me more than 2 weeks pay to buy my Texas Instruments SR11 calculator… still have it with belt clip case…

Working summer job full time at 1.35 per hour in high school.

 

[bigtiller]

I drive a 46 mile round trip to buy my first calculator. It had + X - divide and memory, which I had no idea how to use. It cost me $20 and I think it was the year 1975. I was working for less than $6 an hour at John Deere.

 

[MossRoad]

My dad bought a TI-2500 Datamath in the early 70s. It was around $125 for a 4 function calculator. That would be a tad under $1K today!

DATAMATH

Here's a 4 function plus percent and square root at Dollar General for $2.00. Also has memory and solar power.

Buy OfficeHub Pocket Calculator, 8-Digit Display, Dual Power from Dollar General - Instore

Office & School Supplies Deals - Buy OfficeHub Pocket Calculator, 8-Digit Display, Dual Power - Instore at your local Dollar General stores. Find all the Desk Supplies options you need for the best prices.

www.dollargeneral.com

$2.00 today would have been about 26 cents in 1973.

 

[Runner]

My HS physics teacher HATED calculators. He would have forced us to use slide rules if the district would have let him. I will never forget hearing him say "Alright now Students, get out your slide rules, or push-buttons if you must, and let's go to work."

He also used to say "Without my pocket knife, I feel cold, wet and nude". Funny old guy. He looked and sounded just like Mr.Pete (Tubalcain).

Then again, he also signed my yearbook "You are a diligent student, but stay away from this subject henceforth", which wasn't so funny.

 

[John0829]

I flunked slide rule 101

Dad taught me how to use a slide rule WAY back when, but sadly that skill has long left me. Think I still have one somewhere around here, I might see if I can find it and wake up some brain cells or not.

 

[Runner]

Dad taught me how to use a slide rule WAY back when, but sadly that skill has long left me. Think I still have one somewhere around here, I might see if I can find it and wake up some brain cells or not.

I was in HS 1975 - 77, which was at the very tail end of when slide rules were actually used, so we had to learn how to use them. Then, 5 minutes later switched to calculators. Still have a couple of them too.

Kind of like learning how to shoe a horse instead of change a tire.

 

[RjCorazza]

My dad also taught me how to use a slide rule and read meter scales, micrometers, etc. I found it fascinating.
I wish I had kept the slide rule he gave me

 

[MossRoad]

I still have one of my father's slide rules, and a bunch of rulers and mechanical pencils and other things he used as an architect over his life.

I also have my grandfather's barbering equipment.

Kinda neat to see the stuff they used to make a living.

 

[Jstpssng]

My parents were trying to clean the property up, and gave the family still to the local historical society.

I didn't even know we HAD a family still!!!!

 

[Eagle1]

My parents were trying to clean the property up, and gave the family still to the local historical society.

I didn't even know we HAD a family still!!!!

Sure you are not adopted?