>From my long experience as a tower clock maker / repairer, I have seen and
>heard of various roman numeral differences.
1/ laid out even if in reverse, to give a visual balanced look, sonetimes just
the odd numeral with
vertical strokes such as IIII not IV
2/ human errorrrrrr,
one stroke left off 12 so clock has two elevens, XI XI
one stroke added to 12 so clock has 11 and 13 ! ! XI XIII
error by yours truly once, when marking out a large six ft diameter clock
dial, started off with the
12 then put eleven next to the twelve and so on all round the dial, stood
back to admire my
handiwork, to find that I had gone the wrong way round. Fortunately it was
only chalk not painted.
The 6 and 12 were correct !
It is quite possible in the sundial refered to, that a similar error may have
been done, putting the
vertical strokes next to the X or V but on the wrong side.
One finds that the error may have been done 100 years ago, but each time the
dial is repainted, it is
requested that the error be left unchanged. Makes their dial special.
Enjoy your dialing, The man who makes no errors, has never made anything !
David Pawley. UK.
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