Accession No
2666
Brief Description
umbrella enclosing a sundial, compass, thermometer, and eye-end of brass barrel telescope, by Taunton, 1875 (c)
Origin
England; London; Lower Islington Road; 4 Norfolk Street
Maker
Taunton
Class
astronomy; optical; dials; thermometry
Earliest Date
1875
Latest Date
1875
Inscription Date
Material
cloth (silk (?)); metal (brass, oxidized brass, white metal, mercury, and 1 other); glass; ivory; rope (string)
Dimensions
overall length 923mm; max diameter 39mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Inscription
‘TAUNTON
4. Norfolk ST.
Lower Islington Road’ (on back of thermometer mount)
Description Notes
Umbrella with ivory handle, Handle encloses: magnetic sundial with hour plate floating under glass dome; Fahrenheit thermometer divided [8] - [138] numbered by 10 subdivided to 2 and marked with initials for various temperatures (freezing, temperate, summer heat, blood heat and one other); and eye end of brass barrel telescope. Other end screws off to reveal object glass.
Container of sundial seized, silk coming away from umbrella struts; 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 own explanatory text for this object is:
"Umbrella. Containing telescope, spy glass, microscope, thermometer and sun-dial. c.1860."
17/10/2025
Created by: Hannah Price on 17/10/2025
FM:40126
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