Hi, I received some information about Saunders & Cooke, so I forward it to the sundial-list.
------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- From: "James E. Morrison" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: (Fwd) Saunders & Cooke Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 14:31:33 -0400 I have considerable personal experience with Saunders & Cooke as I wrote the books that accompany their planispheric astrolabe and their Astrolabium Catholicum. I am currently working on the book for the astrolabe quadrant. I have these three instruments. The planispheric astrolabe they offer is simply marvelous. It is quite large (260 mm in diameter) and very nicely finished. This instrument is etched and the lines show up very well. It comes in a beautiful wood case lined with green felt that doubles as a display case. There are a few details that they are improving over my instrument and the latest ones should be as close to perfect as a hand crafted instrument is likely to get. The instrument does not duplicate a specific historical instrument but contains the normal layout and scales of a 16th century European astrolabe. It is quite heavy and the quality of the machining is first rate. The Astrolabium Catholicum is somewhat smaller (160mm) and recreates rather closely the "Astrolabum (sic) Catholicum" of Gemma Frisius from the mid 16th century including the Tulip design on the rete, but does not include the compass in the throne and comes with only one plate. The back is a saphea arzachelis with an articulated brachiolus. This instrument is machine engraved. It is an accurate recreation of a 16th century universal astrolabe but smaller. It is too small to be very accurate as a calculating device but it is certainly beautiful. It comes with a clever display stand. The astrolabe quadrant recreates a typical 14th century astrolabe quadrant. It is machine engraved and very nicely finished. All of the instruments I have seen and used are heirloom quality and priced rather below any equivalent instruments I have seen, but they are not inexpensive. They make lovely display pieces, but I think the Personal Astrolabe is more useful as a working instrument. Sauders & Cooke also sells a beautiful ring dial, a Roja astrolabe and reproductions of old stick barometers. Best regards, Jim ---------- Best regards Krzysztof Kotynia
