The Campbell-Stokes Heliograph sunshine recorder from Tiree Met Station.
Courtesy of Mr Ray Sharp
The Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder was invented in 1853 by John Francis Campbell, the editor of ‘Popular Tales of the West Highlands’, and modified by Sir George Gabriel Stokes in 1879. It consists of a glass sphere, about ten centimetres in diameter, mounted on a metal stand.
Manufactured to Met Office specification, the glass sphere focuses the rays of the sun to an intense spot which chars a mark on a curved graduated card mounted concentrically with the sphere. As the earth rotates, the position of the spot moves across the card. The card is held in place by grooves, of which there are three overlapping sets, to allow for the height of the sun during different seasons of the year.
Its main advantage is its simplicity and ease of use. However, the results require interpretation by an observer and may differ from one person to another.
Colour photograph of the `Saga` sailing in Longhope Bay in 1999.
The `Saga` sailing in Longhope Bay in 1999. The `Saga` is a Looe Redwing, 14 ft. long with a 26 ft. high mast and 147 sq. ft. sail, designed by Uffa Fox and built in 1949 by Billy Clouston. Pupils at Tiree High School were given sailing lessons in her by Donald MacKinnon of Sandaig and Bank Manager William Groat as part of the school outdoor activities.
The Dewar Shield for dinghies presented to Tiree Regatta Club by John Dewar & Sons, Distillers in Perth and engraved with the names of 25 winners 1969-1994.
Audio cassette recording of Hugh MacLean of Barrapol talking to Maggie Campbell in October 1999.
Hugh MacLean of Barrapol talks to Maggie Campbell in October 1999 about his boyhood and schooling at Sgoil na Mòintich, his work on the farm, a spell in the Merchant Navy and 40 years as clerk to Tain Committee, old burial places, old farming methods using horses, harvesting, changes in the weather, planting potatoes, Tiree-made shoes, storms and tornadoes, New Year festivities, whisky, the Glassary and Curtis-Stanford. Tha Iain Aonghais a’ bruidhinn ri Magaidh Chaimbeul anns an Dàmhair 1999 mu na daoine agus àiteachan ann agus mun cuairt Cill Moluaig, feum crotail airson aodach a dhath gu dearg, diofrach thobhtaichean mun cuairt Loch Bhasapol far am b’ àbhaist bradan agus bric a bhi, mac fear-uasal Dhòmhnall ’IcIllEathain a bha na fhear-brathaidh airson an Ruis, mar a fhuair ‘An Green’ ainm, na cathaidhean gainmhaiche a b’ àbhaist a bhi ann, uisge air a tharraing a tobraichean, ag obair air na croitean le eich, a’ cur coirce, neipean agus buntàta, a’ toirt sìol don mhuilinn ann an Còrnaig agus cion nan daoine far an robh iad uaireigin gu math lìonmhor.
Bell gun with firing mallet used as a humane killer for slaughtering cattle and sheep. Originally used by Tiree butcher, Donald Archie MacLean, to slaughter cattle and sheep, this humane killer was given to the vetinary on the island, Robert Beck, in the 1960s. Made of cast iron, the maker’s name, W. W. Greener of Birmingham, is embossed around the rim of bell. Once loaded with a single bullet, the bell was positioned on the front of the animal’s head and the gun fired by hitting the trigger (the protruding knob) with the wooden mallet. Although very efficient and humane, it required two hands to operate and another person to steady the animal’s head. Not considered safe enough for use indoors, humane killers with captive bolts are now used instead.
