2023/21/1-3

Blundell Rules Ltd (Manufacturer)

Feed formulation compound calculator slide rule by Techniculture to calculate the nutrient analysis of animal feed formulations. The rectangular plastic rule is double-sided with a slidable cursor. The rule is printed with various ingredients, each detailing nutrient content at a scale of weights. The rule was invented by David Gutteridge, produced by Martin Berry, marketed as Techniculture. The rule is part of the Paul Poornan collection of materials relating to animal food and nutrition Acc.DX2442. The rule has a card box and lid. The rule was made in around 1963. Numbering: 1) Box main, 2) Box lid, 3) Slide rule

1 calculator in box: plastic, cardboard

Pre-MERL List – ‘I also donate a feed formulation slid-rule, that was invented prior to the arrival of feed formulation calculators. It was donated to me by Martin Berry, and I have enclosed his letter explaining its history. Although I have worked in animal feed history for 40 years, and specialised in feed formulation, this is the only slide-rule I have ever seen. The first formulation computer in the World was an analogue machine, called the Qelec. I have the details on this machine, which I would like to give to you – but cannot find them at the moment, so will send them to you in due course.’, Pre-MERL – Advert for the compound calculator by Techniculture [Duplicate of Techniculture leaflet in Acc.DX2442], Pre-MERL letter, Martin Berry to Paul Poornan, 17 March 2021 – ‘[…] suggested I should send you the details of the Techniculture Compound Calculator in case you are not aware of it. It was invented by Dr David Gutteridge in about 1960. He was at that time the technical chief of Plowmans of Spalding, Lincs, a largish regional compounder. David Gutteridge soon after started Gutteridge Feed Services in Spalding - who were feed manufacturers and the pioneers of Mobile Feed Mills in the UK. At around this time I bought from him the rights and stocks etc. of the calculator and set out to market them myself under then name of TECHNICULTURE. I applied for a PATENT, which was duly granted. We sold quite a lot of calculators in the UK and a useful number worldwide. However at around this time (early 1960s) the first analogue and digital computers for compounding appeared on the scene and over shadowed our Techniculture Calculators. For your interest, I enclose a copy of our original product leaflet. I will send you one of these calculators for your interest – when I am allowed to go to the post office! I send this information to you in the hope that one may have some mutual interest.’

Weymouth

1963-01-01 - 1964-12-31