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Description: | Small traveller's sun dial; brass, circular shape, mid 18th century. Inscribed on both surfaces with numerals to allow the time to be read. The ring is hung by a thread from the small loop on the outside and a tiny hole in the ring allows a beam of sun t
"Traveller's sundial from Aberdeenshire"
Author: Inglis,Jim & Curtis,Neil Date: 1990 Purpose: Encyclopaedia of the North-East
"Before mechanical clocks or watches were widely available, ways of telling the time of day or of timing an event were varied. Various devices could measure the position of the sun, such as a sundial, others measured the passage of time. Portable sundials were common before watches were generally available. This is a traveller's ring sundial, made of brass, dating from the mid 18th century. It is small, about bracelet size, and easily carried. It is inscribed on both surfaces with numerals to allow the time to be read. The ring is hung by a thread from the small loop mon the outside and a tiny hole in the ring allows a beam of sun to shine through on to the numerals on the inner side of the ring. The time is read from the altitude of the sun."
Author: Feilden,Rosemary Date: 1999 Purpose: SCRAN
"Traveller's Ring Sundial, brass. Sometimes referred to as Bracelet dial, it functions by the sun's altitude irrespective of its azimuth (direction). The ring is 2 inches in diameter and 0.5 inches wide. The outer face is marked with IFM AMI IAS OND for the months of the year, I representing J. W and S probably denote the summer and winter solstice, which are calibration positions. A B C and TW are also marked. The inner surface is marked with two sets of diagonal lines, the hour numerals and the half-hour dots. Each of three inscribed rings is marked A B and C. In use a slider on the outer surface is set to the date and provides a mount to stand the ring, which is rotated until the sun shining through a hole in the edge falls on the diagonal hour lines on the inner surface. On some examples an eyelet suspends the ring. The light spot is lined up with the centres of these lines at the equinoxes, with the bottom of the lines at the summer solstice and the top ends at the winter solstice, the A B and C rings probably aid this calibration. No knowledge of direction is needed. Mid 18th century. "
Author: Kidd,R.S Date: 21/11/2002 Purpose: comment
Field collector: Buchanan, William Mr | License: | http://www.abdn.ac.uk/historic/Copyright_terms_conditions.shtml | Publisher: | ABDUA University of Aberdeen, Marischal Museum | Rights holder: | 47718 | Temporal: | 1740-1810 | Source: | University of Aberdeen | Identifier: | http://calms.abdn.ac.uk/Geology/dserve.e... | Go to resource |
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