ANTIQUE
SUNDIALS & COMPASSES for sale
A
late 18th or early 19th century brass Augsburg
pattern equinoctial compass sun
dial signed on the underside of the
compass box Joh= Schrettegger im Augsburg, in
its original card case .
The silvered hour ring is engraved 3 –12 & 1 - 9 for the time and holds
the sprung gnomon. The silvered folding latitude arc is engraved from 0 to 88
degrees. The octagonal horizontal plate is
decoratively engraved and the blue iron compass needle has a brass cap and
rotates above a silvered scale containing the cardinal points of the compass in
Latin. The card case also contains a double sided printed paper showing the
latitude of numerous cities on one side and instructions for use in German and
French on the other, and is complete with brass catch, although the paper hinge
to the case has long since parted. A good working example of this fine iconic
pocket sundial/compass from the home of the Augsburg Dial.
- £695
A mid 19th
century, antique Compass Sun Dial, engraved on the
inclining plane P.Myres, London.
Philip Myres was known to work in Nottingham from 1825 to 1835, so it is
likely that he either moved to London after 1835 or just used a London address
for better international credibility, as many companies do today. This type of
universal inclining dial, first introduced in the mid 18th century.
The 3 ½ inch diameter chapter ring is engraved in
Roman Numerals, for the time and holds the sprung gnomon. The inclination
scale is engraved from 0 to 60 degrees which makes the dial a universal dial
able to be set for any latitude (up to 60 degrees) and is hinged to fold for
transportation. The enclosed silvered compass dial is
engraved with the cardinal points as well as four 0 to 90 degree quadrant scales
and the jewelled iron compass needle is clamped for transport by a small brass
lever. The sundial neatly folds flat for transport.
-£550
An
18th
century Augsburg pattern equinoctial compass
sun dial engraved on the underside of the
compass box with latitudes for several European cities, and with the makers name
And Vogl, the
abbreviation for Andreas Vogler, compass
maker in Augsburg. The 5 cm. Diameter chapter ring is
engraved in Roman numerals for the time and holds the sprung gnomon. The folding
latitude arc is engraved from 0 to 90 degrees. The octagonal horizontal plate is
mercurial gilded and engraved with foliate & geometric decoration. The
glazed compass has a blue iron compass needle with a brass cap and rotates above
a silvered scale containing the cardinal points of the compass in Latin, and the
local magnetic declination (dating it to the second half of the 18th
century). The whole dial folds down neatly for storage
or travelling. The instrument is in good working order and is an excellent
example of the 18th century German pocket compass dial
- £650
this page was last updated 06/12/2011