Pocket Compass Sundials
A wide range of various pocket compass sundials from Europe & America dating 17th to 20th centuries.
Travelers' Horizontal Sundial
Shown in each corner of above slideshow are varying Wooden-cased Horizontal Sundial's. These folding dials, also known as Traveler's Dials, were popular among the Victorian & Edwardian elite. Pictured is an English-made sundial and horizontal clock, made for 49 degree latitude.
Dated 1875
Butterfield-Style Folding Pocket Sundial by J. Baum & Co.
Ornate Victorian Butterfield-style Pocket Sundial by J. Baum & Co., of Birmingham. Dated 1875, this interesting chased gilt, folding subsidiary sundial has a fixed gnomon with inset button compass, engraved detail and arabic numeral hour markations.
Featured in the Whipple Museum at the University of Cambridge.
circa 1830
'Heliochron' Early Pantochronometer
Early 19th century Pantochronometer- hand-engraved 'HELIOCHRON' on lid. Complete original. Dome-cased brass sundial compass with floating paper face and fixed brass gnomon.
circa 1801-1840
Mahogany Dome-Cased Magnetic Sundial by Samuel Porter
Antique Wooden Dome- Cased Horizontal Magnetic Sundial Compass. With original paper face plates, wooden tops, and functioning dials. An early19th Century Magnetic Sundial by Samuel Porter features a fixed gnomon, original domed Mahogany case, and time calculation tables on lid. Circa 1801-1850. Missing original glass dome. Edwardian era, English-made.
Featured in the Science Museum Group.
Circa 1840
Pantochronometer by Samuel Porter
Antique Wooden Dome-Cased Sundial Compass. With original paper face plates, wooden tops, and functioning dials. This 19th Century Pantochronometer, or magnetic dial, features a central compass and outer inscribed dial, with glazed cover & turned lidded Sycamore case. Circa 1840.
Featured in the Science Museum London (#2).
circa 1865
Late Georgian Treen Domed Sundial & Compass
English-made. Original domed glass, with treen domed, hinged top. Early 19th Century. Magnetic dial for 51 degree latitude. In the lid of the box is a table of corrections for the equation of time. Circa 1865.
Featured in the Royal Greenwich Museums.
circa 1865
Wooden Dome-Cased Pantochronometer
This patent Pantochronometer is a pocket Sundial/Compass, used to tell time the world over. English made, circa 1865. Instructions and time tables on label inside lid. Floating compass card, Sycamore wood, original glass, fine brass patina. Functional, original piece. Great condition.
Circa 1775-1800
Brass Pocket Sundial by E. Hamilton
A fine, late 18th century Sundial. Marked 'EH', this piece was meticulously handcrafted by E. Hamilton around 1775-1800. Roman numeral markations, folding horizontal dial, lithographed paper dial face. Lovely brass patina. With press-cap lid.
Similar Hamilton Dial featured in the Five Colleges & Historic Deerfied Museum Consortium.
Circa 1790-1820
American Hand-Coloured Brass Pocket Dial
Antique Brass Pocket Sundial, Hand-coloured paper face dial. Circa 1790-1820. Complete with threaded screw-on lid, fixed upright gnomon, and hand-etched face. This piece features a lovely patina exhibiting extensive field use Complete piece, this dial was designed without a glass face. American-made.
Circa 1810-1840
Antique Brass Pocket Sundial Compass
Early 19th Century Pocket Sundial Compass. A fine brass pocket Sundial with press-fit lid, hand engraved Roman numeral chapter ring, hinged gnomon, paper compass card, glass cover over half-blue steeled needle on jeweled pivot. Unsigned. European made, ca. 1810-1840. A functional, and scarce piece.