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Unique Clocks
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 Using
a unique mechanical clocks display to mark the state of the moon’s
phase is an old and tradition among makers of clocks—but one
that is uncommon today. One can encounters moon dials on unique
clocks from virtually every country, though they are now somewhat
novelty items and not used nearly as often as in the past. These
unique moon dial clocks we are concerned with in this article are
the more commonly seen "moon dials" that sometimes come
on grandfather clocks, usually from England and America.
Lunar displays on clocks are known in Germany from the end of the
16th century. It was never intended to be just a novel decoration
for the amusement of the owner and his friends. There is a practical
side to these unique clocks too. Back when they were first invented,
if one wanted to have friends over or travel out, one had to know
when moonlight would be available.
There is also a lot of folklore around these unique clocks designed
to detect lunar activity. Farmers planted by the moon’s cycles,
and the unique clocks, named “moon dials” could help.
Moon dials, are actually more properly referred to as "lunar
dials" and they are usually in the form of a disc assembled
onto the main dial plate which is usually in the arched top section.
Halfway around the disk displays one full lunar cycle, 29 and one-half
days. The days are numbered along the arch. A lunar cycle which
can be measured by these unique clocks starts at the new moon and
will then progresses to the full face, on the 15th day, the full
moon is shown, and then this unique clock goes back to no face again
as the moon wanes. The unique lunar dial has nothing to do with
the suns cycle, so it is very different from the more commonly used
sundial.
Moon dials, or lunar dials that are most rarely seen will have
a brass sphere in the arch of the dial—one half silver and
the other black. The sphere of this unique clock revolves a little
each day and the silvered side comes into view the same way the
new moon comes out of nights shadow in the sky.
When a unique clock such as a moon dial has been custom designed
for a seaport town, the local tide cycle is often shown as well
as the moon’s phase. Rarely, a movable pointer hand will be
included. If a movable pointer is made, when this unique clock is
finished, it will adjust to accommodate the readout if the clock
is moved up or down the coast any great distance—since the
ebb and flow in the new location will vary, the lunar dial will
be automatically adjusted. This is such a unique clock to have,
despite that it suits very little modern purpose
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