産業機器 - No.250 - Japan - ヘミ竹製スライドルール

Item Description

This is a SUN Hemmi No. 250 bamboo slide rule, made in Japan during the Shōwa period (circa 1960s).
Hemmi was the most celebrated slide-rule maker in the world, renowned for using a special large-diameter bamboo grown in Kagoshima on the island of Kyushu.

The No. 250 is a duplex (double-sided) general-purpose model for office and technical use, introduced as the successor to the earlier No. 150, with a slim body and clean, generously spaced scales.

The instrument is built from a genuine real bamboo core faced with white celluloid, a construction prized for its stability against temperature and humidity, with the natural bamboo clearly visible at the ends.
It has a central sliding scale, a clear glass cursor in a chromed metal frame, and metal end brackets, and it is marked "SUN HEMMI JAPAN NO. 250."

One face carries the K, A, B, T2, T1, S, D, and DI scales; the other face carries the DF, CF, CIF, CI, C, D, and L scales, giving a full range for multiplication, division, squares, cubes, reciprocals, trigonometry, and logarithms.
Before the electronic calculator, a slide rule such as this was the essential everyday tool of scientists and engineers, and this model was among the popular upper-grade choices of its day.

It is offered complete with its original printed paper box and the original protective vinyl sleeve bearing the red HEMMI logo, both of which seldom survive together.

Size

Length 32 cm × Height (width of body) 5.3 cm × Thickness 1.2 cm

Weight

130 g

Condition

In good condition overall, complete and fully working.
The scales are clean and crisply legible, the central slide moves smoothly, and the glass cursor is clear and intact.
There is light age-toning to the celluloid and minor handling marks consistent with age, but no significant damage.
The original paper box shows age, light soiling, and some foxing spots (visible in the photographs).
The original HEMMI-logo vinyl sleeve is present and intact, with normal creasing from storage.
No parts are missing.

Maker / Background

Hemmi Slide Rule Co., Ltd. (逸見製作所), Tokyo, Japan.
The company was founded by Jiro Hemmi (1878–1953), who patented his bamboo slide-rule construction in several countries, including the United States in 1920.
Hemmi's bamboo instruments were exported worldwide and were also supplied to major overseas brands, earning a global reputation for accuracy and quality.
Hemmi rules made after 1950 carry a two-letter date code; if present on this example, the exact month and year of manufacture can be identified on request.

NOTICE

Please note that these are not included in the sale; only the item described above is included.
The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by DHL, FedEx, or Japan Post depending on the situation.

Please note that we may use recycled cardboard boxes for outer packaging.
Delivery normally takes about 2–3 weeks after dispatch.
Import duties, taxes, and customs charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost.
These charges are the buyer's responsibility.

Please note that as of 1 July 2026, the EU has abolished the de minimis customs exemption.
All shipments to EU countries are now subject to import duties and VAT regardless of the declared value of the goods.
For shipments with a declared value under €150, an additional customs processing fee (from around €3) may also apply, and further minor charges may be added depending on the destination country.
Sometimes customs or the delivery company in your country may contact you for customs clearance by phone or email.
Please make sure that you are reachable and able to respond promptly.
If you do not respond, the parcel may be returned to us, and reshipping then costs more than double the original shipping fee.
We do appreciate your kind cooperation.