Magnetic dial
Magnetic dial for latitude 51° North. This miniature dial is set on a magnetic compass card with a round brass base containing the dial. There are 32 marked compass points, unnamed apart from 'S', 'W' and 'E'. The hour ring, within the compass points, is numbered clockwise V-XII, I-VII; there is a sunface at the South point and a simple brass gnomon. It has a domed glass cover over all.
This is the smallest dial in the NMM collection. It is hard to see that it could have fulfilled any useful purpose for time-telling, and it was probably intended as a toy or a trinket (possibly a gift for a lady or a child).
For more information regarding this dial please refer to the OUP & NMM catalogue, 'Sundials at Greenwich'.
This is the smallest dial in the NMM collection. It is hard to see that it could have fulfilled any useful purpose for time-telling, and it was probably intended as a toy or a trinket (possibly a gift for a lady or a child).
For more information regarding this dial please refer to the OUP & NMM catalogue, 'Sundials at Greenwich'.
For more information about using images from our Collection, please contact RMG Images.
Object Details
ID: | AST0382 |
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Collection: | Astronomical and navigational instruments |
Type: | Magnetic dial |
Display location: | Not on display |
Creator: | Unknown |
Date made: | circa 1835 |
Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection |
Measurements: | Overall: 7 x 13 mm |