The cast vertical dial with medieval figures you describe was made by Pearson Page c.1931, catalogue number 4212. Their catalogue was illustrated in the Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No.3, pp10-11, 1984. and also in No. 5.
I am not sure if your "clown" dial was made by them too - the illustrations in the SIS Bulletin are not very clear. I suspect it may be by them. If you could send me the picture, please, I will try to match it up with the catalogue.
Regards,
John Davis
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Frank Evans <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Frank Evans <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Greetings fellow dialists,
In the current BSS Bulletin, p.77, Member A. Capon describes a
mass-produced cast metal vertical dial of good quality, citing seven
examples he knows of, five of which he has seen personally. The dial,
elaborately decorated with the arms of what appears to be an English
medieval monarch (helm, barred, afronty; supporters, lions rampant, no
unicorn) and half a dozen medieval figures in a colonnade, is figured on
the front cover of the Bulletin, March, 2003 and there is a good picture
in February 1996, p.7.
He might like to know that another of these dials, which he does not
list, is to be found in the famous National Trust garden at Sissinghurst
Castle in Kent. It is recorded as SNRO 0602. There are more. As well as
Sissinghurst I have seen one elsewhere but am bothered to recall where.
Any further contributions?
And has anyone any information about another good quality mass-produced
cast metal dial showing a man's (a clown's?) head bursting through a
paper hoop and with a tin whistle in his mouth which forms the gnomon?
There is an example on a front door in Worthing, Sussex and I have seen
a picture in a book somewhere, but once again cannot remember where. I
can forward a picture of this dial (about 80 kb) to enquirers.
Frank 55N 1W
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Frank Evans
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Dr J R Davis
Flowton Dials
N52d 08m: E1d 05m
