Accession No
0956
Brief Description
universal equinoctial dial, by Michele Bertini, 1780
Origin
Maker
Bertini, Michele
Class
dials
Earliest Date
1780
Latest Date
1780
Inscription Date
1780
Material
metal (gilt brass, silvered brass, steel); glass
Dimensions
length 163mm; breadth 135mm; height 46mm
Special Collection
Robert Whipple collection
Provenance
Inscription
‘Michele Bertini
1780’
Description Notes
Gilt brass base plate set on 3 levelling screws; engraved foliage decoration at 4 corners. Above and rotating on the base plate is a disc divided 0 - 180˚ - 0, numbered by 10˚, subdivided to 1˚. (Index at bottom; 17-1-2000). Central compass, silvered; 8-point compass rose; marked for magnetic variation at 12˚ W of N. Hinged to the disc is an hour circle segment in silvered brass, divided IIII - XII, I - VIII, numbered by I, subdivided on inner face to 5 minutes. Declination circle with pinhole gnomon on diametrical cross piece, the gnomon adjustable for declination by sliding scale with silver calendar disc and gilt index calibrated by month and zodiac sign, subdivided by transversal dots to 1˚.
Hour circle is held in place by arc, hinged to the base plate. This is marked 90˚-35˚, numbered by 10, divided to 1˚. Fits into half-slot on side of hour circle; 17-1-2000.
Condition: good.
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, 0190, 0782 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:40014
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