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does anybody know what this is?

it has two dials and seems to tell what time it is in different locations. any info would help. not sure what it is made of or how old. thanks.

kevin

image

image
my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.

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    some sort of dial-a-prayer-n-timezone coin? Looks 1925 or so?

    Edited to add: For synchronized prayer among loved ones/mates? That is an old practice.

    Eric
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    Olvaltine secret decoder pin
  • This content has been removed.
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    OldEastsideOldEastside Posts: 4,602 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Its interesting

    Steve
    Promote the Hobby
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    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Rather a unique religious artifact. Never saw one like it. Cheers, RickO
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    WoodenJeffersonWoodenJefferson Posts: 6,491 ✭✭✭✭
    "Dial a Prayer"
    Chat Board Lingo

    "Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
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    TT for the Nightcrew?

    Eric
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    CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,436 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think the OP is on the right track. Looks like some sort of time zone converter.

    The "PM" side is clearly lined up, but the "AM" side is not. So you can't read the location on the AM side. If both wheels were lined up properly, it would be easier to confirm.

    Also, this object may be old enough to predate daylight savings time. So the readings might be off an hour in the southern hemisphere.

    “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

    My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

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    LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,756 ✭✭✭✭✭
    an early version of the Antikythera mechanism
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    << <i>Also, this object may be old enough to predate daylight savings time. So the readings might be off an hour in the southern hemisphere. >>




    I would be surprised if that predated DST (what, 1895?)! I don't think so.

    Eric
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    CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 34,197 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Do any of the tabs on the edge turn the interior disc?

    I have never seen anything like it.

    TD
    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
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    << <i>I think the OP is on the right track. Looks like some sort of time zone converter.

    The "PM" side is clearly lined up, but the "AM" side is not. So you can't read the location on the AM side. If both wheels were lined up properly, it would be easier to confirm.

    Also, this object may be old enough to predate daylight savings time. So the readings might be off an hour in the southern hemisphere. >>



    that dial did not turn freely and it is not my thingy so did not want to force it. it belongs to my daughters` boyfriend. i believe it was given to him by his grandfather.
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.
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    << <i>Do any of the tabs on the edge turn the interior disc?

    I have never seen anything like it.

    TD >>



    yes one for obverse and one for reverse. one moves freely and the other does not move. didn`t want to force it and break something.
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.
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    CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,436 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The more I think about it the more I think the two movable disks would allow for adjustment for daylight savings time.

    Otherwise, (before DST) the time differences between time zones would have been fixed and it could have been done on a single disk.

    “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

    My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

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    CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 34,197 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If you read the obverse inscription around starting at 12:30 it ends with "....THE MASS IN" followed by the opening. Those are probably place names in there, such as "NEW ENGLAND NEW YORK" etc. The other side could represent where the holder was at the time.

    However, as a lifelong Catholic I know of no significance (to us) of when a particular Mass is conducted, other than special occasions such as the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve or the Mass at Dawn on Easter morning, and that time varies with the season. If you were in Alaska at 10 AM it did not matter that some mass was being held right that moment in New England.

    Just a WAG here...perhaps it was some missionary society that tried to hold a Mass at the same moment all around the world no matter what time zone the person holding it was in.
    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
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    CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 34,197 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Do any of the tabs on the edge turn the interior disc?

    I have never seen anything like it.

    TD >>



    yes one for obverse and one for reverse. one moves freely and the other does not move. didn`t want to force it and break something. >>



    Could you carefully move the one that turns freely and give us some more images?
    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
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    PipestonePetePipestonePete Posts: 1,987 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Olvaltine secret decoder pin >>



    "You'll shoot your eye out, Kid!"
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    << <i>If you read the obverse inscription around starting at 12:30 it ends with "....THE MASS IN" followed by the opening. Those are probably place names in there, such as "NEW ENGLAND NEW YORK" etc. The other side could represent where the holder was at the time.

    However, as a lifelong Catholic I know of no significance (to us) of when a particular Mass is conducted, other than special occasions such as the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve or the Mass at Dawn on Easter morning, and that time varies with the season. If you were in Alaska at 10 AM it did not matter that some mass was being held right that moment in New England.

    Just a WAG here...perhaps it was some missionary society that tried to hold a Mass at the same moment all around the world no matter what time zone the person holding it was in. >>



    i think if i could move the frozen disc and read it it may make sense. just curious as to what it is. just thought it was very unique and thought i would share. image
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.
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    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>Do any of the tabs on the edge turn the interior disc?

    I have never seen anything like it.

    TD >>



    yes one for obverse and one for reverse. one moves freely and the other does not move. didn`t want to force it and break something. >>



    Could you carefully move the one that turns freely and give us some more images? >>



    i`ll see if i can get more pics and post them.
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.
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    This is called an "obsecratio intentia" or something very similar. It is used when a Catholic priest is giving a special intention mass for a departed loved one and a family member in another part of the country can pray for the deceased at the same time as the mass is being said.

    They are also used for a novena, which are special supplication prayers said at the same time for nine consecutive days by one or more people. My great grandmother gave my mother a very similar one in silver which was dated 1898. Sorry I dont have a picture. It is of nominal value but a still very interesting Catholic artifact.
    image
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    Most helpful. I have seen one or two over the years, but never knew what it was called. Thanks image


    Eric
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    johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 34,260 ✭✭✭✭✭
    its different and kinda neat looking, thats for sure
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    Well,

    I am pretty pleased with my first guess image


    Eric

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