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Description: | W. Hager. Wolffenbuttel
Universal equinoctial dial for 35�-65� North. Round silver watch-type case containing a silver dial which has a gilt-brass hour-circle and gnomon. A fob and a suspension ring are on the case. On the front and the back of the case is a table of latitudes comprising towns and cities in Europe, such as Venedig (Venice) 45 20 and Genff (Geneva) 46 0. On the silver dial-plate the latitude scale is engraved below the compass. A groove above it contains a sliding index, which is linked to a cam and spring mechanism for setting the angle of the hour-circle. Set into the dial-plate is a silver compass on which the cardinal points are marked in German. Around the rim of the compass is a gilt-brass ring to which is attached a leaf-shaped index for indicating the magnetic variation. The hour-circle is spring-loaded, hinged and has a silver inset in its inner rim engraved with hours. A pivoted turned gilt-brass strut across the East-West diameter supports the rod gnomon, which has a weight at one end. The dial-plate is signed 'W. Hager. Wolffenb�ttel'.
This instrument is very similar in style to AST0404, made by Johann Martin. The inclusion of several high-latitude towns in the latitude list is a reflection of the northerly situation of Wolffenb�ttel at a point midway between Hanover and Magdeburg. The concentration of German towns suggests that the dial was made for a German owner. Another such dial by Hager is in the King George III collection at the Science Museum (inventory no. 1927-1466).
For more information regarding this dial please refer to the OUP & NMM catalogue, 'Sundials at Greenwich'.
caption: Equinoctial dial
caption: unavailable
caption: Equinoctial dial, outside of case | Publisher: | "http://collections.rmg.co.uk/" | Rights holder: | "Royal Museums Greenwich" | Subjects: | Directional dial Wolfgang Hager Sundials at Greenwich Equinoctial dial universal equinoctial dials | Source: | Royal Museums Greenwich | Identifier: | http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections... | Go to resource |
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