Accession No
0693
Brief Description
horizontal dial, English, 1933
Origin
England
Maker
Class
dials
Earliest Date
1933
Latest Date
1933
Inscription Date
Material
metal (aluminium, steel); glass; paper
Dimensions
diameter 48mm; thickness 15mm
Special Collection
Robert Whipple collection
Provenance
Purchased at Harrods in 01/1933.
Inscription
‘TEMPUS FUGIT’ (motto on dial plate)
‘POCKET
SUNDIAL & COMPASS
DIRECTIONS...’ (in lid)x
Description Notes
Aluminium case with push fit lid. In lid letterpress directions. Paper dial plate divided 5 - 12, 1 - 7 (plus 30 minutes at either end; 31-1-2000), numbered by 1, subdivided to 15 minutes, and VI - XII, I - VII, numbered by I, divided to 15 minutes; (scales one hour apart; 31-1-2000). Outer scale marked ‘SUMMER/TIME’, for 51˚ 30´. Compass with 8 lettered points and marked for magnetic variation.
Condition: good; complete.
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:43277
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