Sunshine recorder

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This sunshine recorder was made around 1900, probably by L. Casella, a scientific instrument maker based in London. This form of instrument was devised in 1853 by J. F. Campbell (1821-85) of Islay and modified by George Stokes (1819-1903) in 1880.

The device has a strip of paper, replaced daily, which records the burnt trace made by focusing the sun's rays by means of the solid glass sphere. A latitude adjustment was added to the design by 1885.

A famous historian of meteorological instruments has written that 'the measurement of the duration of direct sunshine is more an attempt to quantify human feelings of well-being than a serious contribution to meteorological theory'. (Middleton, p 231).

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-659-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1902.15
• Date: Around 1900
  c. 1900
  
• Material:
• Dimensions:
• What:
• Subject: 10. METEOROLOGY (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: L. Casella, London (Maker)
  
• Where: England, London
  
• Event:
• Description: Sunshine recorder, probably made by L. Casella, London, c. 1900
  
• References:
  • Casella. L., Scientific Instruments by L. Casella. London: 1871, pp 48-9 
  • For the life of J. F. Campbell, see Thompson, F. & MacDonald, D. A., Lamplighter and Story-teller: John Francis Campbell of Islay 1821-1885. Edinburgh: 1985, esp pp 59-60 
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