In that time frame, the look-up tables were very popular as pocket electronic calculators were not yet widely available. The HP35 was the first pocket scientific, $395, and released in 1972, and a bit pricey for many engineers (I waited for the HP45). Four-function pocket calculators were only a couple of years earlier. Companies had "calculator rooms" with a bunch of desktop calculators, but if it wasn't on your desk, a look-up table had appeal.
From the Chrysler guidelines, can you tell their first model year program that was metric design? It would have to be a few years after they taught the engineers to work in metric, due to development time. ________________________________ From: James Frysinger <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, June 27, 2011 10:06:46 PM Subject: [USMA:50769] Chrysler metric handbook My wife recently purchased for me, via shopgoodwill.com, an informally assembled metric handbook for Chrysler. It is bound in a cardboard binder (the type with two long prongs that fold over and are held down by sliders) and it comprises several sections. The first three sections are: _SI Metric Handbook: Units, Terms, and Conventions_ (June 1975) _Chrysler: Interim Guidelines for Metrication_ (June 1973) _Chrysler: SI Metric: Style Manual_ (no date) Then follow miscellaneous Special Bulletins, advice articles, tables of data, etc. The three sections listed above also contain many tables, notably conversion "look-up" tables (as opposed to tables of conversion factors). One thing that caught my eye is that some documents spell it meter and some spell it metre. One section provides detailed specifications for metric fasteners. I look forward to having time to peruse this find! She paid $6 for it plus a few dollars for shipping. I think she said that a total of 6 such handbooks were available; maybe some still are. Jim -- James R. Frysinger 632 Stony Point Mountain Road Doyle, TN 38559-3030 (C) 931.212.0267 (H) 931.657.3107 (F) 931.657.3108
