'Sunquest' Mean-Time Sundial
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
2001
This 'Sunquest' mean-time sundial, or heliochronometer, was produced in 2001 by Tony Moss of Lindisfarne Sundials in Bedlington, Northumberland. The object was designed by R.
L. Schmoyer, based on original pattern designs dating to 1959. Constructed of metal, the instrument functions by tracking solar movement to indicate mean time. The structure includes various calibrated arcs and a central adjustment plate inscribed with temporal information. It measures approximately 480 mm by 380 mm by 360 mm. The design facilitates alignment with the sun, with specific inscriptions visible on the central assembly regarding solstitial orientation, serving as an functional tool for timekeeping based on solar position.
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
- Horizontal sundial
- Maker
- Tony Moss, Lindisfarne Sundials
- Designer
- R. L. Schmoyer
- Material
- Metal
- Measurements
- 480 mm x 380 mm x 360 mm
- Place recorded
- England
- Origin of castings
- America
- Maker / attribution
- R. L. Schmoyer; Tony Moss
Design
- Visible features
- • Base is inscribed with 'Lindisfarne Sundials 2001' • Central plate features the inscription 'FACES THE SUN JUNE 21 - DECEMBER 22' • Primary components are manufactured from cast metal with a smooth finish • The assembly includes calibrated circular and curved arcs for adjusting settings
- Design and Origins
- The 'Sunquest' heliochronometer originated from designs by R. L. Schmoyer, who created the initial patterns for the device in 1959. These designs are maintained by the American Sundial Society, which served as the source for the castings used in the creation of this specific instrument. The production of the object took place in Bedlington, Northumberland, where Tony Moss of Lindisfarne Sundials executed the final assembly in 2001.
- Construction and Inscriptions
- Constructed primarily from metal, the sundial features an complex array of arcs designed to track the sun and output mean time. The central, curved plate is prominently engraved with instructions regarding its orientation, specifying that it 'FACES THE SUN' during the period between the summer and winter solstices (June 21 to December 22). The base of the instrument is cast with clear identifiers, including the name of the workshop and the year of manufacture. The mechanical nature of the object allows for user-adjustable settings, with various visible scales calibrated along its circular components to enable accurate solar reading.
- Provenance and Identification
- The object is catalogued in the Science Museum Group collection under the accession number 2003-213. It is identified as a 'Sunquest' mean-time sundial. The source material provides overlapping production dates, attributing the design to 1959 and the final manufacture of this piece to 2001, though some descriptive text suggests an earlier production period in the 1990s. Its measurements of 480 mm by 380 mm by 360 mm classify it as a substantial table-top instrument.
Identification
- Accession Number
- 2003-213
- 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: Discrepancy exists between the 2001 date in the title and the 'between about 1990 and 1999' date range in the description
- Research required: Source lists multiple dates for design and production without clarity on the final assembly timeline