Hello all
I'm new to the list and would like to pose a query for my 90 year old
neighbour.
He was in Berlin in 1945 and bought a pocket sundial because he thought it was
an object of curiosity. He knows nothing of astronomy or related topics. He
showed it to me and asked if I could find out anything about it. Its use is
obvious. A brass button underneath is pressed to allow the dial disc to find
magnetic North. The small wire gnomon then casts its shadow onto the disc
which is marked for UTC and UTC +1.
If made today it would be a cheap object, being made of a black plastic base
with a clear plastic dome. The plastic is in as new condition. It has been
kept in its original box, with instructions in German (which we don't
understand (apologies to those in Germany)). I imagine that plastic materials
were rarer then and am therefore surprised that the clear dome has not
yellowed.
It is 50mm diameter, the black base being 10mm deep and the clear dome 12mm
high. The dial is marked RUTER-UHR Berlin. There is a pointer, at the edge of
the dial, which appears to be similar to a clock fast/slow adjustment ie there
are + and - signs either side of the pointer which are about 2 to 3 hrs worth
of movement from the zero point. I have not opened it so I can only assume
that it can be adjusted a little for time zones, or possible anomalies in
magnetic orientation.
The box has RUTER TYPE BERLIN on it, and the instruction booklet has
what is probably the manufacturer Fabrik technischer Erzeugnisse
DR. RUDOLF RUTER
Berlin-Kladow.
He hasn't and will not consider it to be of the slightest value except as a
curious memento of his times in Berlin at the end of the war, but if there is
anything else that can be said of it which is of interest I would like to
pass it on to him, even if it is a worthless cheap thing that was made by the
million.
Thank you very much in anticipation of any replies
John Gould
Retired (and tired) mechanical engineer come amateur astronomer,
watercolourist, jazz pianist and general dogsbody living in South Wales.
