Accession No
0081
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 (gilt-brass, silver); glass
Dimensions
length 57 mm; breadth 55 mm; thickness 18 mm
Special Collection
Robert Whipple collection
Provenance
Purchased by Robert Stewart Whipple from Charles Worth, London, in 11/1922.
Inscription
‘And Vogler’
Description Notes
Decorated and pierced gilt-brass square base on 3 feet (one does not match; 28-1-2000). Inset compass with silvered base; 8-point rose with cardinal points marked in Latin; magnetic variation marked at approx 15˚ W of N. Gilded plumb bob on pierced and decorated gallows. Cusped hour circle with worn silvering, divided III - XII, I - IX, numbered by I, subdivided to 30 minutes; similarly subdivided on inner rim. (Folding gnomon on diametrical bar; 28-1-2000). Silvered latitude arm divided 6˚ - 86˚, numbered by 10˚, subdivided to 2˚. Reverse of compass box carries list of towns and latitudes. Hinge of hour circle and inner face of circle marked ‘III’.
(Also marked ‘III’ on edge of latitude arm, and possibly (?) base of gallows and base of plate.
Condition: fair.
References
Events
Description
17/10/2025
Created by: Hannah Price on 17/10/2025
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.0190, 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:41407
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