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A transparent plastic parasol with a compass in the handle and a quadrant marked with degrees of latitude from which the handle swivels. The canopy of the parasol is marked like a planisphere, with months and dates round the circumference. In order to tell the time, the compass is lined up with magnetic
north, the quadrant is sighted along and lined up to a known latitude. Twirl the canopy so that today's date is immediately above the quadrant, then, with the eye in the position of the bottom of the handle, find the sun. This will tell you the time because the markings are in the appropriate positions. There are northern and southern versions of the parasol.
This is used during the summer. In the winter, an umbrella replaces the parasol enabling one to read off from the opposite six months, so that more than six hours can be covered by the device.
Am i making sense?
the Aquitaine Ring
http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/e56d/
[Sgt Teacup, May 10 2013]
[link]
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[+] Yes, I love this.
[21] where's your bun? |
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I may make an attempt at a diagram. Thanks. |
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I think it will be beautiful!! |
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[+] Brilliant, you should file for a patent on this and then when youre rich, you'll be rich and that will be awesome |
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It's not a sundial. You look up through it at the Sun. I'm wondering, in fact, if anywhere prints on umbrellas. |
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Well done, nineteenthly, are you Mary Poppins? Mary Poppins was very clever. Her timepiece umbrella had a cloaking device so others saw it as merely an ordinary black umbrella...that could support human weight. |
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This is a brilliant low-tech solution to low power/no device situations, similar to the Aquitaine ring. File the patent! |
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