INSTRUMENT: Calender

Description: Perpetual Calendar

(revolving centre pieces)
Location: South African Cultural History Museum (M:E:231)
Source:
-(R13)

Description: Meridian room

Photo Gallery

Location: Observatory Museum Grahamstown
Source:
-(R14)

Description: Quarts Clocks

Location: The Union (Repulic) Observatory.
Source:
-Moore, P. & Collins, P.; Astronomy in Southern Africa, p.103.
(Note) The Republic Observatory was the timekeeper for South Africa. When Jan Hers started working there (Rep. Obs ?) in 1947, there were 5 pendulum clocks for time keeping. Three of them were Reefer clocks (German?) When the Observatory received the quart clocks the old pendulum clocks were kept for a few years and then sold. It wasn't a public auction, but there was a call for bids. Where are these clocks now? When the Republic Observatory closed down, Jan Hers became timekeeper at the C.S.I.R. Apparently the quarts clocks onwards are still at the C.S.I.R. [Personal conversation with Jan Hers at Sedgefield on 29 Apr. 02; CL

Description: Clock of Father Tachard

The clock that Father Tachard used when he visited the Cape in 1685. He had a clock that showed seconds.
Source:
-John Harrison Tercentenary, MNASSA, Vol. 52, Nos. 7 & 8, 1993 Aug.

Description: Harrison Clock

Cape Observatory received a new Harrison clock as one of its first instruments. (Circa 1827) (Could it be a clock made by Harrison who solved the longitude problem?) Where abouts unknown.
Source:
-Laing, J.D. (ed.), The Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope 1820 - 1970 Sesquicentennial offerings. p. 3.

Description: Crystal clock

Crystal clock system installed at Cape Observatory during the directorship of Stoy (1950 - 1968).
Source:
-Laing, J.D. (ed.), The Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope 1820 - 1970 Sesquicentennial Offerings. p. 17.

Interesting Links:
Link to Objects Lost and / or Found.
Link to a short History of Astronomy in Southern Africa.
Link to a Time Line to see how Events on this page relates to the bigger time dimension.
Link to view the Achievements and other Interesting Aspects of Southern African Astronomers.
Link to the Telescope Manufacturers
Link to the Main Bibliography Section and more information about Sources.

Director Historical Section: Chris de Coning - siriusa@absamail.co.za

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