More than 1000 slide rule collectors are known world-wide. Looking at the number of buyers on internet (at eBay and dealers), there must be many thousands of other interested people. Some of them are organised in country- or language-focused groups, but others are more "lone hunters".At the moment, 5 groups of slide rule collectors are known, with the observation that some individuals belong to more than one group .

The Oughtred Society (OS), a formal "non-profit public benefit" organisation in the USA, is since 1991 the largest group of slide rule collectors. More than 400 OS-members exist world-wide, of which about 100 in Europe. Since 2003 the Oughtred Society has extended its interest to "Historic Calculating Tools".

For the brochure of the Oughtred Society click on:

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The "Journal of the Oughtred Society" (JOS) is the publication which is known as a professional and prestigious paper. The JOS is published twice a year (the Spring and Fall issue).For more information about the JOS, Click here
Since 2009 the Journal is in full color.

More activities have been started from 2005 onwards:

 - the Oughtred Society Award
 - the Oughtred Society Bulletin
 - new Oughtred Society Books

The OS membership fee -outside the USA- is $ 45.-, translated to European currency at 35.- EURO. The membership fees can be paid by creditcard (PayPal, see the OS website), or via one of the contact persons.
In the Netherlands the contact is Otto van Poelje

	The "Nederlandse Kring van Verzamelaars van Rekenlinialen" (NKVR), or "Dutch Circle of Slide Rule Collectors" is an informal group of some 60 Dutch and Dutch-language members, established in 1991. End 2004 the scope of the Dutch Circle has been formally extended, and its name changed to "Dutch Circle for Historical Calculating Instruments". The magazine for Circle members is called "MIR".
	The United Kingdom Slide Rul Circle (UKSRC) is an informal group of about 100 English and English-language members, established in 1996. The magazine for members is called "Skid Stick".
	Each year an issue of the UKSRC "Slide Rule Gazette" is published with some 100 pages of more extensive articles
	The RechenschieberSammler Treffen (RST) or "Slide Rule Collectors Meet" is an informal group of more than 80 German and German-language members, established in 1997. The magazine for members is called "RS-Brief", and the full contents can be found on-line at the RST website.
	The International Slide Rule Group (ISRG) is an Internet discussion group at  Yahoo, with a membership of about 1000. See also  publications.

 

International Meetings

Since 1995, an "International Meeting for Slide Rule Collectors" (IM) has been organised every year in Europe.
Each IM is organised by collectors from one country. The programme consists as a rule of a swap fair, presentations by and to collectors, and ample opportunity for social events and talking with old and new collector friends.
Proceedings have been published during each IM, documenting all presentations given.

For most IM Proceedings, it is possible to order back-copies, for  prices around 20 EURO, excluding shipping costs.  ask for more information.

The following IM's have been held until now:

		1995	Utrecht	Netherlands	Verslag van IM1995
		1996	Cambridge	England	Verslag van IM1996
		1997	Stein/Neurenberg	Germany	Verslag van IM1997
		1998	Huttwil	Switzerland	Verslag van IM1998
		1999	Cambridge	Engeland
		2000	Ede	Netherlands	Verslag van IM2000
		2001	München	Germany	Verslag van IM2001
		2002	Leamington Spa	England	Verslag van IM2002
		2003	Breukelen, Amsterdam	Netherlands	Verslag van IM2003
	Contents pag. 1 pag. 2 pag. 3	2004	Bad Driburg	Germany	Verslag van IM2004 Preview of the Proceedings book Price of this book is 65 EURO. More lectures: see rechenschieber.org under: RS-Brief 11
		2005	Cambridge	England	Verslag van IM2005
		2006	Greifswald	Germany	Verslag van IM2006
		2006	Greifswald	Germany	Verslag van IM2006
		2007	Lelystad, Enkhuizen	Netherlands	Verslag van IM2007
		2008	Leamington Spa	England	Verslag van IM2008
		2009	Greifswald	Germany	Verslag van IM2009
		2009	Greifswald	Germany	Verslag van IM2009
		2010	Leiden	Netherlands	Verslag van IM2010
		2011	Boston, MIT	USA	Verslag van IM2011

IM2012 will be organized at Bletchley Park, UK, from 21 to 23 Sept. 2012.
See IM2012 Announcement by UKSRC.
See IM2012 Registration Form.