PortableSundials.com
Ancient gadgets from Earth
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SUNDIALS 4

 Lovely pocket dial complete with case. Shiny, prettily engraved. Good to show!

Butterfield Sundial

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Butterfield Sundial


The green of brass underneath, the top surface is a bright tin colour with an etched brass gnomon. The whole is also etched prettily with scrolls, arabic and roman numerals, TEMPUS FUGIT, as it does, and has an inset compass. It is octagonal in shape.
It has its own leather case which it slides into easily. This is a real pocket or handbag sundial being flat and cased!

More information here about this type of sundial


54mm by 63mm. 9mm high. Weighs 24g.
£150.00
Lovely item, ideal pocket sundial with full instructions for round-the-world time-telling.

Coronation Sundial

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Coronation Sundial


This is a pretty little brass box with tight fitting lid. The underneath carries full instructions inscribed on it, and the lid has the words "Coronation of Elizabeth II June 1953" embossed together with the Crown.
Inside the lid is a very interesting dial with inscriptions showing times all round the world. The dial itself has a a floating compass under a glass lid, fold-down gnomon and roman numerals around the side. Looks old but I'm guessing it was made after 1953...
45mm diameter. 18mm high. Weighs 86g.
£45.00
Second hand and made recently this is a 'book' type dial with attractive illustrations. It works, too!

Wooden Diptych Sundial

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Wooden Diptych Sundial

This is a diptych type sundial - which means 'book' in greek. It opens, the string is then taut and you simply read the time. It is second hand, in good condition but it is recent item.
73mm long by 55mm wide. 20mm deep closed & 80mm when unfolded. Weighs 56g.
£20.00
Pretty, small and colourful to enhance your display. Ceramic copies of sundials - 3D with a stand at the back.

Sundial Tiles

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Sundial Tiles


What you see is a packet xmm by x mm. In each pocket is a ceramic tile model of a sundial. Each one is different. If you have any instruments on display these will make a wonderful colourful addition to it. Each model is made with a piece at the back so that they will stand upright. These twelve come in a plastic case as you can perhaps see.
Each approx 25mm x 20mm. Weighs 84g (9g ea)
£25.00
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.
Sundials also may use many types of surfaces to receive the light or shadow. Planes are the most common surface, but partial spheres, cylinders, cones and other shapes have been used for greater accuracy or beauty. Sundials differ in their portability and their need for orientation. The installation of many dials requires knowing the local latitude, the precise vertical direction (e.g., by a level or plumb-bob), and the direction to true North.
Wikipedia