Sundial, Shepherd's Cylinder Dial
notes: label: Description
content: This wooden cylinder dial, sometimes called a shepherd's dial or chilindre, measures the length of the sun's shadow rather than the angle of the shadow. The instrument has a turned finial drilled for a suspension loop; a white ribbon is threaded through the hole and tied. The metal blade gnomon has a filial edge. This gnomon apparently does not fold. A second slot across from the slot containing the gnomon suggests that there might originally have been two gnomons: a short one for summer and a long one for winter. The top of the instrument with the gnomon turns on a screw. The scales are inked on. The calendar scale is calibrated in increments of five days, marked at intervals of "15" and "30", and lettered by zodiac symbol. The hour lines are calibrated from 5 to 12 to 7 by 1. Previous cataloging notes, "Identified as So. German, ca. 1625. The length of the noon shadow at the equinoxes is marked as 35 mm, corresponding to a latitude of about 50 degrees 10 minutes."
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: The Whipple Museum of the History of Science, <I>Catalogue 6: Sundials and Related Instruments</I>, Part 4, Section 1.
label: Description
content: Charles K. Aked, "Clock of Wisdom," <I>Clocks Magazine</I> (February 1987): 25.
label: Description
content: References: The Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Catalogue 6: Sundials and Related Instruments, Part 4, Section 1; Charles K. Aked, Clock of Wisdom, Clocks Magazine (February 1987): 25.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
label: Subject
content: Timekeeping
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.322087
label: accession number
content: 247031
label: catalog number
content: 322087
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Sundial
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 17.3 cm x 9 cm x 5 cm; 6 13/16 in x 3 17/32 in x 1 31/32 in