The Texas Magnum is an actual functioning slide rule. After assembly, actual calculations similar to those you may encounter while pursuing an online university degree were made on the slide rule. A 'doubting thomas' resident engineer asked for a calculation on the slide rule. He validated our computation to 5 significant digits. (We can interpolate to six significant digits.)

The slide rule was built in sections for ease of construction, assembly, storage, and transportation. It assembles to form a single, rigid unit.

A laser tracker measuring device was used to determine the actual total length of the scales on the slide rule. The SMX Tracker 4500 measured the exact length as 350.54948 feet.

The previous record of 323 feet 9.5 inches was set in 1979. (History of previous records.)

An article appeared in the March 1, 2001 Ft.Worth Star-Telegram.

The co-designers and builders of the Texas Magnum, Skip Solberg and Jay Francis, would like to extend their thanks to Lockheed-Martin for providing the facilities to demonstrate the slide rule. Lockheed-Martin was very gracious and accommodating in providing 500 feet of continuous, unobstructed space to assemble and displace the slide rule. Lockheed-Martin provided the SMX laser tracker, provided for the video taping and still photographs of the Texas Magnum, contacting the media and press, and promoting the demonstration among the personnel at the Fort Worth plant.