What is shown here is called the sundial cannon or noon cannon. The little bass cannon is mounted on a 9-inch marble base and has a magnifying glass that is positioned above it. When noon arrives, the lens can focus sunlight to light the cannon’s fuse to get it to fire.
Imagine if the cannon was loaded, it could be used to “shoot” the one who’s dozed off on his work desk before lunch break. What a great alarm clock that would dangerously but most effectively wake you up!
This is what’s called a sundial cannon, or a noon cannon. Assuming the weather cooperates, at noon exactly the lens on the sundial focuses sunlight onto a pan filled with gunpowder, setting off the cannon to mark the time. Generally, the cannons weren’t loaded with shot, but with all of the novelty alarm clocks out there, it seems like one that automatically shoots you could be really, really effective, in a potentially dangerous sort of way. And hey, it’s even solar powered.
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