Accession No

0190

Brief Description

Augsburg dial, by Andreas Vogler, German, 2/2 18th Century

Origin

Germany; Augsburg

Maker

Vogler, Andreas

Class

dials

Earliest Date

1750

Latest Date

1800

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, silver); glass

Dimensions

length 75mm; breadth 71mm; thickness 17mm

Special Collection

Robert Whipple collection

Provenance

Purchased by Robert Stewart Whipple from R. Middegaels, Paris, France, on 10/01/1925.

Inscription

‘And Vogler’ (base of compass)

Description Notes

Decorated octagonal base on 3 feet. Inset compass with silvered base; 16-point rose with cardinal points marked in Latin; magnetic variation marked at approx 15˚ W of N. Plumb bob with worn silvering in pierced and decorated gallows. Hour circle divided III - XII, I - IX, numbered by I, subdivided to 30 minutes; inner rim divided 3 - 12, 1 - 9, numbered by 1, subdivided to 30 minutes. (Folding gnomon on diametrical bar; 28-1-2000). Latitude arm divided [2˚] - [86˚], numbered by 10˚, subdivided to 2˚. Reverse of compass box carries list of towns and latitudes, headed ‘Elev Poli’. Hinge of hour circle marked ‘VV’. (Also marked ‘VV’ on outer rim of hour circle, edge of latitude arc, base, and base of gallows; 28-1-2000). Various parts picked out in red.

Condition: good/fair; complete.

References

Events

Description
In November 1944, R.S. Whipple’s donation to the University of Cambridge was put on show in the East Rooms of the Old Schools. The University accepted the donation on the condition that they found a new institution within which to house the collection.

Whipple himself wrote a guidebook to this exhibition, describing some of the more important objects and books on show. The front cover includes the following declaration: “The Exhibits are drawn from the Collection which Mr R.S. Whipple is presenting to the University and will form a nucleus for a History of Science Museum and Library in Cambridge.”

Whipple's label for this dial (along with Wh.0081, 0782, 0956 and 1224) was:

"Several dials of German manufacture are exhibited: some of these are richly decorated. The German makers (more particularly at Augsburg) appear to have made large numbers of inexpensive universal dials in different sizes. The French makers, in addition to making various kinds of universal dials, appear to have concentrated on one model, generally known as the "Butterfield" type. In this instrument the position of the gnomon is indicated by a bird's beak."

17/10/2025
Created by: Hannah Price on 17/10/2025

FM:41403