mini sundial

[Patriot 1776]

I found this MD last month, I need feed back from forum . Is this a portable sundial?

 

[goldkey]

It looks like a sundial. It also looks Masonic in design. What is the dimensions of the piece? I looked to translate the writing on it but could not find a translation.
Are there letters that are not showing in this picture? I assumed it might be greek or latin but couldn't find an answer for the translation at this time. Is there other writing on the backside?

 

[Patriot 1776]

thanks for you insight , nothing on the reverse. circle based 2x2

 

[jambone]

Looks like it says "ELEVAT{IO} POLI", which is Latin "elevation of the pole" or "latitude". So maybe this is a sundial to be used at, or is most accurate at, 45° N latitude? The 45th parallel runs through Italy and France, among other places.

 

[Patriot 1776]

Wow that's some good information

 

[Cross Potent]

Wonder how old that thing is? I really like it.

 

[gunsil]

That is one of the coolest things I've seen on here in a while!! Does the pointer fold down, or is it stationary?? Way cool!

 

[H-2 CHARLIE]

I'm guessing its old

 

[Diggin Dude]

That is a awesome find! Love it. I hope more info about it pores in. Congratulations!

 

[Qball]

Super find.

 

[dirtlooter]

now that's really cool, might have been used to get to Oak Island

 

[sandchip]

Very neat. Did you clean it much? Seems to lack the patina one would expect on what could be a very old piece.

 

[jambone]

Give this a try, keeping in mind that I may have some of this backwards...

Lay the sundial flat (horizontal) and aim the triangular piece (gnomon) due north. If you were at 45 degrees north longitude (MA is ~42° N, so close enough for rock-n-roll), the diagonal of the gnomon should point directly at the North Star. At 5am, the shadow should be around where the "45°" is, 6am the blank space, 7am the "I" in "POLI", etc. Here's my guess at how the time maps to the letters on the perimeter:

19:00 E
18:00 L
17:00 E
16:00 V
15:00 A
14:00 T
13:00
12:00 (gnomon)
11:00
10:00 P
09:00 O
08:00 L
07:00 I
06:00
05:00 45°

It looks like it has some nicks, but I'm curious about the one on the gnomon... is it a nick, or does it look like a deliberate mark? It's possible that it could also be used to tell the time of year (date).

Very cool piece regardless!

 

[CRUSADER]

Looks like it says "ELEVAT{IO} POLI", which is Latin "elevation of the pole" or "latitude". So maybe this is a sundial to be used at, or is most accurate at, 45° N latitude? The 45th parallel runs through Italy and France, among other places.

Funny you should say that, I thought it looked Italian made. Must be at least early 19th C. It may have been liberated during War by a soldier. Small,old, interesting & easy to carry.

 

[The Urban Prospector]

You found the knob from my oven! Been chewin' out the kids for losing it. I will pm you my shipping address. JK
That is a neat find. Thanks for sharing. Very interesting!

 

[Carolina Tom]

Very cool find... and that Jambome is a wealth of knowledge! GL&HH.

 

[Patriot 1776]

good question, still looking to find out

 

[Patriot 1776]

Thanks gunsil, the pointer doesn't fold down very solid brass/copper one of my best finds

 

[Patriot 1776]

H-2 charlie, trying to find out how old will require some research, jambone gave me a good start

 

[Patriot 1776]

thanks , everybody is helping