As some of you know, I'm every bit as fascinated with the "old way" of doing things as much if not more that with modern technology. I've got digital cameras and 100 year old bellows camera, modern typography software, and very old typewriters and printing presses, power tools and 100+ year old woodworking tools, digital "books" and 200+ year old masterpieces. This applies to most of my hobbies.
I've put together another piece of equipment for measuring and observing meteorological data. In the 19th century, a new device called a Campbell-Stokes Sunshine Recorder was developed for observing the length of sunshine during a day. A glass sphere was suspended over a special chart designed to char when the sunlight focused on it. The total length of the charred sections was the length of sunshine for that particular day. If it was partly cloudy, the charred sections would be intermittent and need to be added together for the day's total.
Sunshine recorders have mostly fallen out of use in modern times, but they are still used a few places and still manufactured. They are just extraordinarily expensive! A new Casella Campbell-Stokes Sunshine Recorder list for $3500, and the very few used ones I've seen are $1500-$2000. Beautiful, but way out of reach for casual observations. Here's a nice description of them along with photos:
http://www.kuriositas.com/2011/02/campbellstokes-sunshine-recorder.htmlA lady that had one for sale on the WXforum for $1400, but I decided I'd end up in the doghouse for the rest of my life if I spent that much on a shiny ball. She later contacted me letting me know that she had just the base for one that she'd sell for $75. Lotta good that would do me! But I had her send photos anyway, and decided that I could probably come up with something to at least use it for experimenting and decoration. Meanwhile, she contacted me again, lowered the price to $50 including shipping. I decided to go for it. I asked if she'd include a couple of chart strips for testing, and when it arrived, I had probably six month's worth of charts!
I asked the UK guys over on the MacWeather forum if they know of anywhere that replacement spheres could be purchased. Herb, in jest, suggested I get a Crystal Ball. You know what? That was a great idea! I contacted the company and bought a slightly oversized crystal ball. The sunshine recorder has the "bowl" for more norther locations than mine, and I don't have the fancy cups to support the sphere. But for experimenting and appearance, I don't think I did too bad!
Obviously a temporary solution to suspending the sphere. Yes, that is a "crystal ball" . Thanks Herb!
Total cost: $76.95
Steve