PortableSundials.com
Ancient gadgets from Earth
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SUNDIALS 2

 Brand new, attractively boxed and unique fold out brass sundial. Perfect copy of the original type.

Astronomical Ring Sundial

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Astronomical Ring Sundial


Properly called an equinoctial sundial this consists of two concentric rings (meridian and equatorial) which fold out. The central bar or bridge can then be twisted. First slide the sticky-up thing that has the cord attached round to the correct latitude (we're 52'). Then slide the back slider that sits on the central bridge to the correct month (start, middle or end of each month). Now flip open the middle ring. Hold your sundial on the cord and turn it slowly in the sun light until a light beam passes through the small hole on the black slider, and projects exactly on the engraved line of the inner ring showing you GMT or winter time. For use in the southern hemisphere: Set the latitude on the lower latitude scale (1b). There is no need to change the date-setting!
The outer ring is now positioned North/South. The inner ring is parallel to the equator and the bridge is parallel to the earth‘s axis. You not only have a sundial, but also a model of the earth and a compass.
This is brand new and comes in an attractive box.
61mm diameter and 3mm thick. Weighs 42g.
£55.00
Rare, superb! original antique and very large, heavy brass dial.

Shepherd Ring Dial

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Shepherd Ring Dial


This is very rare. The style is not, but the size is and it was probably owned and worn by a Bishop.
This was inspected recently by the curator of the Oxford Museum who was of the opinion that it is an original and old piece. So many of the smaller ones are copies.
It was bought at auction from Christies in Cheltenham a long while ago by a Paris antique dealer from whom I bought it.
77mm diameter by 31mm wide and 4mm thick. Weighs 286g.
£440.00
Sweet little pocket dial, made of tin and in good condition.

Domed Tin Sundial

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Domed Tin Sundial

This is attractive and small - ideal for the pocket or handbag. It is a brass tin with a tight fitting lid. Inside is a floating dial under a glass disc. The lid has the equation of time - telling you how to add or take off the time depending upon the date - on a paper insert.
The only real damage is a bit missing about 5mm by 0.5mm from the edge by the glass disc. You would see this on inspection but otherwise it is unnoticeable.
163mm by 75mm. 15mm high when folded, 98mm when unfolded. Weighs 106g.
£225.00
Excellent antique wooden treen sundial complete with instructions in the lid.

Turned Box Sundial

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Turned Box Sundial



This is a pretty turned boxwood box with a good fitting lid. The gnomon sits on a paper base with the usual Tempus Fugit, arabic and roman numerals. There is unusually an arrow mark to line up the compass needle with which is offset to allow for magnetic north being not quite where the polar north is.
The lid has a paper insert with full instructions on the use of this Pocket Sundial & Compass.
55mm diameter. 27mm high. Weighs 26g.
£110.00
Sundials can tell remarkably accurate time using only your local star or sun, on whatever planet you're from. Many types exist - pillar, diptych, equatorial and more.
A diptych sundial is any object with two flat plates attached at a hinge. A face was on the inside of each leaf. One leaf formed a vertical sundial, the other a horizontal sundial. The shadow caster, or gnomon was a string between them, and calibrated as to how far they should open, as the angle is critical. Such a sundial can be adjusted to any latitude by tilting it so its gnomon is parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation.
Wikipedia