Bob Terwilliger wrote: > > Dear Friends, > > If you are not familiar with the book "Die Uhr" by Anton Lubeke, it is a > very interesting resource for dialists. The first 70 pages are devoted to > sundials, and include many illustrations of sundials - a remarkable number > of which are unusual or unique. The balance of the book is devoted to other > timekeepers, German and otherwise. > > My copy is in German, published in 1958 by VDI-VERLAG DUSSELDORF. I wonder > if anyone knows of an English translation. > > I am particularly interested in the the book's frontispiece illustration. It > is an old woodcut of a man making a sundial by holding a rod between the > base of his left thumb and forefinger. > > When properly held, the rod becomes a gnomon and the hours are indicated by > shadows cast on the fingers of his left hand. > > The woodcut is surrounded by German(?) text, presumably instructions for the > procedure. It appears to be in the form of a poem. > > I wonder if any German-reading subscribers to this list might be willing to > help me with a translation of the text. > > I have put the illustration on a special Web page for readers of this > mailing list: > > http://www.shadow.net/~bobt/handdial > > Some time ago I surfed into a page with a modern illustration of a > rod-and-fingers sundial which included a good description of its use, but I > have not been able to find it again. I believe it may have been linked to > the Adler Planetarium site. > > Does any reader have other information about this handy (get it?),and highly > portable method of timekeeping? > > Best regards, > > Bob Terwilliger
Hello Bob I've found the same picture without the text in a German book called "Die Uhr: Geschichte-Technik-Stil ", the author is Gerhard Koenig and it is published in 1991. So Im grateful to get the text from your web-site. Inn Sommerszeyten merck diss ler Deyn rücken zu der Sonnen ker So aber fahr der Winnter an Solt du für dich uffrecht stahn Deyn angesicht zu der Sonnen kern Wie du es unthen wirdst wol hoern Ich find gerecht bei viertler stund Wie ich das hab gelernt yetzunt Durch disse uhr inn Linker hend So ich den rueck zur Sonnen wend: Zeygt mir der Halm die rechte zeyt Dahyn er seynen schatten geyt." Its a bit difficult to translate because the poem is very old (about the year 1520.) and words have changed the writing and may have changed their meaning as well, but lets have a try: In summertime dont forget this rule Turn your back to the sun But when the winter begins You should stay upright turn your face to the sun Like you will hear it below I find it right by a quarter of an hour (the accuracy is a quarter of an hour) Like I have learned it now With this dial in my left hand Turning my back to the sun the straw shows me the right time where it casts his shadow. Up to now I havent tried this method. Also the difference between summer and winter sounds a bit strange. But on the next sunny day Ill test it. Best regards, Volker Negele ---------------------------------------------------------------- Volker Negele Bosch Telecom GmbH e-mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Department UC-RA/FRT7 71522 Backnang Fax : (+49) 7191 134642 Germany ----------------------------------------------------------------
