Solar Chronometer - Pilkington-Gibbs, Gibb's Heliochronometer
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1910
This solar chronometer, known as a Heliochronometer or universal sundial, was manufactured by Pilkington-Gibbs of Preston, Lancashire, circa 1910. The instrument was invented by George James Gibbs and patented in 1907.
It consists of a brass assembly featuring two sighting arms and adjustable discs designed to calculate time to a fraction of a minute. The device required individual factory adjustment based on the purchaser's specific latitude and longitude. The instrument functions by aligning the upper disc until sunlight passes through holes in the upper arm to fall on a line on the lower arm, with time indicated by an arrow at the side.
The base is marked with cardinal directions. Distribution was handled by O. Nelson of London. Production of these instruments ceased in 1914 with the outbreak of World War I.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Other sundial
- Maker
- Pilkington-Gibbs
- Inventor
- George James Gibbs
- Dimensions
- 30 cm height, 22 cm diameter
- Distributor
- O. Nelson
- Patent date
- 1907
- Place recorded
- England
- Maker / attribution
- Pilkington-Gibbs
- Registration number
- ST 26054
- Production cessation
- 1914
Design
- Visible features
- • The brass base is marked with the cardinal directions 'NORTH', 'SOUTH', and 'EAST'. • An adjustable quadrant allows for the angle of the discs to be set according to the user's latitude. • The upper disc contains markings for the months of the year for solar adjustment. • Two sighting arms are mounted on the main disc assembly.
- Construction and Design
- The Heliochronometer is a brass instrument designed for precise solar timekeeping. Its configuration includes a rotating circular base marked with cardinal directions to facilitate orientation. The upper assembly features two sighting arms that interact with a central disc marked with the months, allowing the operator to adjust the device for the current solar position. A quadrant mechanism passes through the base, enabling the user to tilt the discs to match the specific latitude of their location. The time is determined by rotating the upper disc until direct sunlight passes through two holes in the upper arm, landing on a line on the lower arm. A side-mounted arrow then provides the reading.
- Manufacturing and Market
- This device was developed and patented by George James Gibbs in 1907. Manufacturing was conducted by Pilkington-Gibbs in Preston, Lancashire, while distribution was managed by O. Nelson in London. Each individual unit was calibrated at the factory to correspond with the exact latitude and longitude provided by the purchaser. Production of the Heliochronometer came to an end in 1914, following the onset of World War I.
- Provenance and Registration
- The object is held under the registration number ST 26054 within the Science & Measurement collection. It was acquired by the museum via a donation from the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement in March 1967. The documentation provided by the institution confirms the object's classification as a sundial and specifies its horological category. The association with the inventor George J. Gibbs is noted as beginning circa 1906, with production dating to circa 1910.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The exact provenance or original owner of this specific specimen is not identified in the source.
- Research required: It is uncertain if all original components or accessories, such as a separate tripod or specialized mounting base, are present with this specific registration.