Page 1

Editorial

The award for the best paper by a new author in the 2007 Bulletin has been made to Stefano Barbolini, Guido Dresti, Frank King and Rosario Mosello for their paper ‘The Sundial in La Specola Museum, Florence’ (Bull. 19(i) pp.33-39). The prize, a certificate and a small replica portable dial, will be presented at a later date.
The BSS and Members

Page 2

The Clef-Callier and the Equation of Time

Describes an unusual 1842 pocket calendar device called the Clef-Callier, named after one of two Parisian clockmakers, which shows the Equation of Time for the 5th, 15th, and 25th day of each month. It also displays the month and date, with corrections generally within one minute of modern figures.
Dials: Portable, Equation of Time

Mike Cowham

Page 3

The Sundial at the Pitti Palace in Florence

This article details the restoration and description of a 1696 pinhole sundial in Florence's Pitti Palace, designed by Vincenzo Viviani. It served for astronomical observations and calendar functions, notably for determining Easter. The piece also explores its historical context within the Medici court and its allegorical frescoes.
Restoration projects, Historical Dials, Dials: Noon Lines

Stefano Barbolini
Guido Dresti
Giovanni Garofalo
Rosario Mosello

Page 10

Down at the Garden Centre: a Recorder’s Afternoon

A recorder encounters an armillary sphere sundial for sale at a garden centre. Despite initial skepticism about 'garden centre' dials, it's well-delineated. The author inquires about its permanence for recording purposes and learns its price (£10,000) and maker, Richard Heron.
Dials: Armillary Sphere

Tony Wood

Page 11

Historical Overview of the Listing/Recording of English Scratch (Mass) Dials

This article outlines four historical periods of listing and recording English scratch (mass) dials, noting over 5000 recorded dials. It highlights the significant contributions of interwar studies, the isolated work of post-war individuals, and the British Sundial Society's Mass Dial Group in preserving this record.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

Chris H. K. Williams

Page 12

Another Scaphe Dial by Mary Watts

Describes a scaphe dial by potter Mary Watts, similar to one in the Watts Gallery. This particular dial, located in Farnborough, Hampshire, serves as a memorial to aviation pioneer Edward T. Busk, who died in 1914. It was moved in 1970 and is now housed at the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust.
Dials: Scaphe, Historical Dials

Doug Bateman

Page 13

Readers’ Letters

A collection of letters. Graham Stapleton suggests new glossary terms; John Moir corrects a previous 'Almost Sundial' entry; Ken Head clarifies how to use analemmatic dials; George White discusses the Bath Tompion dial and its uncertain link to the Pump Room clock.
Dials: Analemmatic, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

Graham Stapleton
John Moir
Ken Head
George White

Page 14

Finding the Sun’s Position in the Zodiac

This article explains how to use Solar Course diagrams found on historical instruments, such as an Edmund Culpeper universal equinoctial ring dial and Italian quadrants, to determine the sun's position in the Zodiac. It details calculation methods, including adjustments for Old Style and New Style calendars, and notes rare instances of early Gregorian calendar pre-emption.
Dialling Tools, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

Mike Cowham

Page 16

The Swear-Box Sundial

This article recounts the legend of Sir Henry Yule, a Bengal Engineer in the 1840s, who, vexed by his own temper and his native workmen's unpunctuality, fined himself two rupees each time he lost his temper. He used the accumulated money to erect a 'handsome' sundial at Roorkee to teach the locals the value of time.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

John Foad

Page 17

Book Reviews

This section reviews 'Biographical Index of British Sundial Makers from the Seventh Century to 1920 (2nd Edition)' by Jill Wilson, praising its enhancements, new names, and comprehensive scope beyond simple indexing. It also reviews 'The Astrolabe' by James E. Morrison, highlighting it as a much-needed, comprehensive guide to astrolabe design, function, and construction.
Dials: Astrolabe, Book Reviews, Historical Dials

Graham Aldred
Tony Ashmore

Page 18

The Jamestown Commemorative Sundial

Describes the design, creation, and dedication of a large horizontal sundial by Tony Moss, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement. The unique 'navette' shaped dial incorporates Anglo-American symbolism, funded by the Sawyer Dialling Prize and sponsors, and was installed at Turner Farm Park.
Dials: Horizontal, Sundial Design & Layout, Construction Projects, The BSS and Members

Graham Aldred

Page 22

The 13th NASS Conference—a personal report

A personal report on the 13th NASS Conference in McLean, Virginia, covering presentations on various sundial topics, a bus tour to significant dials like the Lyman Briggs Memorial Dial and the Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory, and the dedication of the Jamestown Commemorative Sundial. It also details the Sawyer Dialling Prize presentation and practical workshops.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Polar, The BSS and Members

Graham Aldred

Page 26

Astrological Symbols on Sundials

Discusses the historical use and modern relevance of astrological symbols on sundials to indicate dates like solstices and equinoxes, despite astronomical shifts like precession. It examines symbols for Zodiacal signs and those used on lunar volvelles, such as sextile, square, and trine, explaining their relation to moon phases and elongation.
Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Sundial Design & Layout

Fiona Vincent

Page 28

New Dials

This section features descriptions of recently unveiled sundials. It includes a large nodal dial in Blackrock, Co. Louth, Ireland, and a vertical sundial in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, the latter using High Density Urethane material. It also mentions a large horizontal dial in a community garden in Barrow-upon-Soar, Lincolnshire.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical

Page 30

The Hole Park Cary Dial

Describes a Cary dial in Hole Park, Kent, which was stolen but later recovered from an antique shop thanks to photographs. The recovery highlights the importance of documentation for proving ownership of valuable sundials.
Historical Dials

John Foad

Page 31

Astrolabes: Pt 4 Universal Astrolabes

This fourth part of a series describes universal astrolabes, focusing on the Saphea, Rojas, and De la Hire projections. These instruments, developed from the 11th to 17th centuries, could be used at all latitudes, offering flexibility for astronomical and timekeeping purposes, despite the increasing complexity of their design.
Dials: Astrolabe, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

Tony Ashmore

Page 38

Dial Dealings 2007

Reports on sundial sales at major auction houses in 2007, noting a shift away from scientific instruments by Christie's and Sotheby's. It details sales at Bonhams, including a 19th-century cube dial, a 17th/18th-century Polish slate dial, and a medieval astrolabe quadrant found in Canterbury. Other notable sales include portable dials by Edm. Culpeper and a double crescent dial by Johann Martin.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Dials: Cube, Dials: Double Horizontal

Mike Cowham

Page 40

Sundials

Reproduces Tim Hunkin's 'Rudiments of Wisdom' cartoon strip on sundials from the Observer newspaper. It offers a general introduction to sundials but points out historical inaccuracies, such as the Roman, not Egyptian, use of obelisks as gnomons and details regarding Charles Wheatstone's polarised light sundial.
Dials: Reflected, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

Tim Hunkin

Page 41

Book Reviews (cont.)

This continuation of book reviews includes an extensive review of 'The Astrolabe' by James E. Morrison, praising its comprehensive coverage of astrolabe types, principles, uses, and construction methods.
Dials: Astrolabe, Book Reviews

Page 42

Postcard Potpourri 7 - Polam Hall, Darlington

Features a c.1920 postcard depicting a large horizontal sundial at Polam Hall, an independent girls' school in Darlington. The author notes the presence of scholars in the image and expresses uncertainty about whether the dial is still in place.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

Peter Ransom

Page 42

Then & Now

Compares an early 20th-century postcard of a Pilkington & Gibbs heliochronometer at Thornton Manor with a modern photograph. It notes the dial's original purchase by Lord Leverhulme, its continued presence on its pedestal, and the replacement of its glass dome with a chemistry bell jar.
Dials: Heliochronometer, Historical Dials

Mike Shaw

Page 43

Pat Briggs’ Meccano Models

Showcases Pat Briggs' Meccano models, ranging from simple equatorial dials to complex planetaria and astronomical clocks. It highlights his ingenious mechanisms, including a universal joint for shadow tracking, an Equation of Time clock, and a 'Meccano Analemmagraph' for drawing the analemma, using cunningly-designed gear ratios.
Dials: Equatorial, Equation of Time, Dialling Tools, DIY Sundial Projects

John Davis

Page 46

An Equatorial Mean Time Sundial

Describes the design and construction of an 18-inch brass equatorial mean time sundial, incorporating a mechanism to compensate for the Equation of Time. The article details the machining of a groove on a rotatable drum for EoT correction and the careful assembly and alignment of the time-ring and gnomon, calibrated to read GMT directly.
Construction Projects, DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Equatorial, Equation of Time

W. S. May

Page 47

Mystery Dial

Presents a photograph from an old glass lantern slide of a high-quality churchyard dial, believed to date before World War I. The author seeks help in identifying the church, noting a cross on the porch as a potential diagnostic feature.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

Page 48

A Grinling Gibbons Dial

Describes a non-working universal equinoctial ring dial, about 12cm in diameter, incorporated into a 1684 lime-wood carving by Grinling Gibbons. This carving, representing arts and sciences, is located in the saloon of Lyme Hall, alongside other astronomical and navigation instruments, reflecting Sir Richard Legh's interest in the sciences.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

Roger Bowling