Beschreibung:

A fine Scottish patinated brass garden sundial plate with equation of time Adie and Son for retail by W.D. Young and Company, Edinburgh, circa 1835 The 19 inch circular plate centred with an eight-point compass rose with stylised leafy scroll and hatched decoration to segments within track engraved WATCH SLOWER and WATCH FASTER twice and full annual calendar annotated with solar time variance (equation of time) within herringbone border and compass band engraved N. NE, E, SE, S SW, W and NW, the chapter ring incorporating five-minute inner border and Roman numerals IIII-XII-VIII with tied lozenge half hour markers, the outer track divided into sixtieths denoting one minute intervals, the chapter ring terminating with simulated scrolls after the IIII and VIII numerals with engraved signature Adie & Son, EDINBURGH over SOLD BY W.D. YOUNG & Co. 54 HANOVER STR’T, EDIN’B to space between (gnomon lacking). Alexander Adie is recorded in Goodison, Nicholas English Barometers 1680-1860 as born 1774 and apprenticed to his uncle the eminent Scottish instrument maker John Miller in 1789. In 1804 his uncle took him into partnership under the name of Miller and Adie, the business continued until after Miller's death in 1815. Adie was particularly interested in meteorological instruments and is perhaps best known as the inventor of the Sympiesometer in 1818. In recognition of his work he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1819. He was appointed optician to William IV and later Queen Victoria and took one of his Sons, John, into partnership in 1835. Two of his other sons set up businesses; Robert in Liverpool and Patrick in London. Unfortunately John Adie was prone to 'Fits of Despondency' which resulted in him shooting himself in 1857, Alexander Adie died the following year -no doubt expediated by the stress of his son's demise. The firm W.D. Young and Company do not appear to be recorded in the usual sources suggesting that they may have been general retailers.