Accession No
1201
Brief Description
horizontal dial in brass, attributed to J. Baum and Company, English, 1875 (c)
Origin
England; Birmingham [based on atrributed maker]
Maker
J. Baum and Company [attributed]
Class
dials
Earliest Date
1875
Latest Date
1875
Inscription Date
Material
metal (brass)
Dimensions
folded length 45mm; breadth 33mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Inscription
Description Notes
Horizontal dial in brass, [by J. Baum & Co], [English], c. 1875.
Brass dial plate 63x45mm with central hinge, and 17mm diameter hole in right-hand leaf. Calibrated 5 to 12 to 7 by 1. Folding gnomon for 44°N. Attributed to J. Baum & Co. as identical to Wh.0858 except unsigned.
Possibly incomplete - the circular empty area may have contained a compass.
References
Events
Description
The horizontal dial is the most common form of sundial. The portable version proved very popular with the upper classes during the 19th Century. During this period it could best be described as the wristwatch of its day.
The hour lines are engraved onto a horizontal surface, with a gnomon (pointer) in the centre. Seasonal variations (caused by the earth’s orbit being elliptical, not circular) have to be compensated for, as they can affect the raw reading by up to 18 minutes.
18/10/2002
Created by: Saffron Clackson and Boris Jardine on 18/10/2002
FM:43272
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