March 2012 page 8
Mario Arnaldi

The Canterbury Pendant. Part 2: Relationships with the Libellus’ rule

This second part of the article investigates the Canterbury pendant, a 10th-century portable sundial. It compares its graphic layout with the Libellus de mensura horologii and the Roman cylinder dial of Este, exploring the use of two gnomons for different seasons and their relationship to hour curves.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

March 2012 page 13
Frank Coe

A.P. Herbert put to the test

The author tests A.P. Herbert's idea of using a sundial "in reverse" for navigation during a flight to Australia in 1975. He describes making his own "sun clock" and recounts an encounter with a pilot familiar with Francis Chichester's navigation methods, highlighting the practical challenges of such a device.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Sundial Design & Layout, DIY Sundial Projects, Historical Dials

March 2012 page 18
John Davis

A Portable Horologium

This article examines a medieval copper-based alloy device, found in Norfolk, which functioned as both a compass and a horologium. The fine engraving, including early Gothic lettering and 5° time subdivisions ("mileways"), suggests a 14th-century date and offers insights into medieval timekeeping and connections to local horology.
Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

March 2012 page 39
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings 2011

This article reports on sundial sales and auction results from 2011, noting strong sales for higher-quality dials despite a depressed market. It details several interesting pieces, including a stone polyhedral dial, ivory diptych dials, equinoctial ring dials, quadrants, and a double horizontal dial.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 2012 page 8
Maciej Lose

Samuel Saunders. A study of a London sundial maker – Part 2

This is the second part of a study on London sundial makers named Samuel Saunders. It identifies and attributes several equinoctial ring dials, a Butterfield dial, a plane table, and other instruments based on distinctive engraving styles and features.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 2012 page 18
Kuno Gross
Malcolm Barnfield

Sonnenkompass 41

This addendum describes the German Sonnenkompass 41, issued to the Sonderkommando Dora unit in North Africa during WWII. Based on an analemmatic sundial, it featured removable dial plates for different latitudes and seasons, including German Summer Time adjustments. Despite its design, field reports deemed it unsuitable for desert use due to gnomon issues, leading to its obscurity.
Dials: Analemmatic, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 2012 page 22
David Le Conte

The Brunson Universal Sun Compass

This article describes the Brunson Universal Sun Compass (Model 7637B), an elaborate US Army instrument developed in the 1950s. Its innovations included usability at all latitudes and a clockwork mechanism to counteract Earth's rotation, making it a valuable complement to magnetic/gyro-compasses for true azimuth determination in navigation and surveying.
Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

June 2012 page 24

Meccano Butterfield Dial

This entry briefly describes a working Butterfield dial made from components of a Pocket Meccano set. It was created as a challenge for Noel Ta' Bois while he was in hospital and is now held by the BSS.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Portable

June 2012 page 42
Mike Cowham

Latitude Determination using an Equinoctial Ring Dial

This article describes Gabriel Stokes' innovative 1735 design for equinoctial ring dials, which incorporated a direct readout declination scale for latitude determination. By setting the suspension point to the correct solar declination for the day, travellers could directly read their geographical latitude, simplifying a process that traditionally required calculations.
Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

June 2012 page 46
Peter I. Drinkwater
Frank Coe
Sue Manston
David Harber

Readers’ Letters

This section contains three letters from readers. Peter Drinkwater discusses a Canterbury pendant, questioning Arnaldi’s gnomon positions. Frank Coe references a Chichester Sun Compass. Sue Manston points out a potential error in the 'waxing' and 'waning' engravings on the Balliol Moondial's gnomon, to which David Harber responds confirming the mistake.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual

September 2012 page 40
John Davis

Holbein’s Cylinder Dial

This entry describes a drawing of a cylinder (or shepherd's) dial by Hans Holbein the Younger, dating from 1532-1543. It is speculated that the image depicts a real dial either made by or planned by Nicholas Kratzer, Holbein's contemporary and Henry VIII's horologist. The drawing's cut-out nature and right-to-left month inscription are notable features.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2012 page 40
Tony Wood
Johan Wikander

The Celtic Quartet Re-Visited And Augmented

This article revisits the Celtic Quartet of medieval mass dials, noting their unusual carving on separate stones. It introduces a newly discovered, similar slate dial from Vardøhus, Norway, dated 1480–1550, expanding the Quartet to six or seven examples and highlighting historical maritime trade connections between the regions where these dials are found.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

March 2011 page 39
Christopher Daniel

Sundial Ephemera—Crested ‘Goss’ China Sundials

This article describes a collection of miniature crested 'Goss' china sundial ornaments produced from the 1880s. These decorative horizontal dials, typically featuring local heraldic arms, were collected as souvenirs and are now considered rare treasures, despite often having incorrect hour-line delineations.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

March 2011 page 41
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings 2010

This article reviews notable sundials and related instruments sold at auction in 2010, including a silver pocket compass dial by Richard Glynne, a double inclining string gnomon dial by Jacques Le Maire, Japanese scaphe dials, and an ivory and silver compass dial by Elias Allen.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 2011 page 20
Malcolm Barnfield

The Sundial Goes to War: Part 1

This article explores the military use of solar compasses, particularly during World War II, for navigation in unmapped desert terrains. It describes several models, including the Burt, Abrams, Cole Universal, Bagnold, and Union Observatory sun compasses, highlighting their principles and operational advantages.
Dials: Analemmatic, Dials: Portable, Dialling Tools, Historical Dials

September 2011 page 2
John Davis

A Medieval Gunter’s Quadrant?

This article discusses the excavation of a quadrant fragment in Norfolk in 2009, initially misidentified as an astrolabe plate. Further investigation suggests it's a hybrid device combining features of a quadrans vetus and a Gunter's quadrant, leading to questions about its medieval origins despite Gunter's later development of his eponymous instrument.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

September 2011 page 10
Malcolm Barnfield

The Sundial Goes To War. Part 2

This is the second part of an article exploring the use of sundials and solar compasses in military contexts. It describes instruments like the Marean-Kielhorn Director, Howard Sun Compass, Evans-Lombe, Richards, and Micklethwait sun compasses used by Allied forces. It also details German sun compasses, particularly the C. Plath device used by Rommel's Afrika Korps, and the astrocompass, discussing their applications and limitations in wartime navigation.
Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

September 2011 page 16
Allan A. Mills

Ancient Egyptian Sundials

This article reviews ancient Egyptian timekeeping, debunking obelisks as gnomons and a Cairo Museum artifact as a sundial. It focuses on the ‘sloping’ or ‘inclined plane’ portable, seasonal-hour altitude dials, such as the Qantara dial, and earlier L-shaped 'shadow sticks' from the New Kingdom, discussing their construction, use, and the challenges in interpreting their time-telling functions.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

December 2011 page 2
Mario Arnaldi

The Canterbury Pendant. Part 1: A New Insight from an Ancient Rule for Making Portable Altitude Dials

This article summarises the author's attempt to create a clear and correct edition of an ancient text, previously attributed to Bede, on constructing an altitude dial. The findings provide new insight into the famous ‘Canterbury pendant’ and suggest it was made more correctly than previously believed. The text describes a pendant altitude dial, possibly hexagonal, working like a cylinder dial, with specific dimensions and a calendar system.
Construction Projects, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

March 2010 page 21
Alessandro Gunella
Michael Lowne
Tony Wood
Doug Bateman
Chris H. K. Williams

Readers’ Letters

A collection of letters from readers. Topics include a simpler graphical method for using the John Marke altitude dial, a discussion on the nomenclature of mass dials, the 'Sun Position Compass', and the historical connection between clockmakers and dialmakers.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Portable, Mathematics of Dialling, The BSS and Members

March 2010 page 28
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings 2009

A review of sundials sold at auction in 2009. Notable items include a gilt brass compendium by Charles Whitwell dated 1608, a Panorganon by Joseph Wells, a Gunter's quadrant by Henry Wynne, and a silver Butterfield dial by Pierre le Maire.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Scaphe, Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

June 2010 page 52
John Davis

Book Review (2): Monks, Manuscripts and Sundials: The Navicula in Medieval England

This is a review of Catherine Eagleton's book, 'Monks, Manuscripts and Sundials: The Navicula in Medieval England,' which emerged from her doctoral research. The book focuses on the rare medieval navicula, or 'Little ship of Venice,' detailing known examples and newly uncovered 15th-century manuscripts that describe its making and use. It reveals that the navicula was likely more common than previously thought and predates other universal altitude dials.
Book Reviews, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

March 2009 page 32
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings

This article reviews notable sundials and scientific instruments seen in sales throughout 2008. Highlights include an 18th-century horizontal dial by Richard Hintonn, a French silver string gnomon dial, a gilt inclining dial by Chapotot, a rare 16th-century Nuremberg star-shaped polyhedral dial, an ivory diptych dial by Lienhart Miller, a Butterfield universal equinoctial ring dial, and a Gunter quadrant by Nathanaell Heighemore.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

March 2009 page 42
John Baxandall

Jane Austen and a “Small Astronomical Instrument”

This article refers to a letter from Jane Austen to her brother in 1805, mentioning a small astronomical Instrument believed to be a compass and sundial, found among their late father's possessions. The exact type of sundial is unknown, but it highlights the historical significance and potential value of such instruments.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 2009 page 41
Mike Cowham

Altitude dials for tropical regions

Explores the design of fixed-latitude altitude dials for use in tropical regions, specifically The Gambia (13.5° N). The article presents computer-generated plots for various types, including the horary quadrant and vertical plate dial, highlighting the unique behaviour of the hour lines as the sun passes overhead.
Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2009 page 2
Michael Lowne
John Davis

A universal altitude dial by John Marke

Describes a unique universal altitude dial made by John Marke, possibly for Robert Boyle, now in the London Science Museum. The article details the instrument's provenance, its physical characteristics, and its complex operation as a combined clinometer and sundial. It provides an in-depth analysis of the mathematical principles involved and its potential accuracy.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

December 2009 page 17

Collectors’ dials

This brief feature highlights a universal inclining dial by the London firm Thomas Harris & Son from a member's collection. The dial is noted as a genuine antique from the 19th-century firm of opticians, rather than a modern replica, and an appeal is made for other members to share their interesting dials.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

March 2008 page 2
Mike Cowham

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

March 2008 page 13
Graham Stapleton
John Moir
Ken Head
George White

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

March 2008 page 38
Mike Cowham

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

June 2008 page 50
Mike Cowham

Sundial Faces

This article explores the depiction of faces on sundials, primarily smiling suns on vertical dials and replica horizontal dials, as well as moon faces and other figures like angels. It showcases various examples from Britain and Europe, discussing their symbolism and design variations.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2008 page 152
Jack Bromily
Jim Marginson

A Visit to Belgium by Two Innocents Abroad

Jack Bromily and Jim Marginson recount their trip to Belgium to visit the Sundial Park in Genk. Guided by a Dutch Sundial Society member, they explored the park's tastefully located dials and visited the Astronomical Museum. They also visited La Musée de la Vie Wallone in Liège, which houses over 150 portable dials.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Dials: Noon Lines

December 2008 page 154
Mike Cowham

The Universal East and West Polar Dial

This article describes a portable universal East and West polar dial that is self-aligning and does not require a compass. It details its design, operation, and identifies limitations such as a two-hour gap around noon. It also explores improvements through hinged flaps and cylindrical designs, and relates it to other dial types like the double crescent dial.
Dials: Polar, Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Sundial Design & Layout

March 2007 page 15
Mike Cowham

Dial dealings 2006

This article reviews sundial sales and auctions from 2006, highlighting notable items such as a 1545 book with an early gold sundial, a perpetual calendar from around 1700, and a brass horary quadrant by Tho: Poole. It also mentions a standing ring dial, a Butterfield dial, and a rare Henry Sutton quadrant with 'New Style' dating.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

December 2007 page 176
Jackie Jones

Making Portable Dials in Silver

Jackie Jones describes her process of making portable sundials in silver, applying jewellery techniques learned at Art College. Her aim is to create modern, artistic, yet functional pocket dials. She details methods for showing hour lines, blackening recesses, and designing folding gnomons. The article also covers working with sterling silver, hallmarking, achieving different surface textures, and future plans for transparent enamel panels.
Construction Projects, DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Portable, Sundial Design & Layout

February 2006 page 22
Ian R. Butson

The Dial Still Lives!

This article highlights the ongoing use of portable sundials, observed during a visit to Kentwell Hall. A re-enactor demonstrated a modern reproduction, similar to those found on the Mary Rose, to tell time within a Tudor setting. The piece celebrates the enduring relevance and practical application of these historical timekeeping instruments.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

February 2006 page 28
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings

This article reviews notable sundial sales from 2005 auctions and catalogues. Featured items include diptych dials, astronomical ring dials, universal minute dials, and quadrants. The author also discusses a recognised forgery and provides insights into instrument collecting.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

December 2006 page 159
Mike Cowham

Production-line Manufacture of Portable Dials

The article reveals that sundial were often produced in batches or using templates to save time and cost. Evidence of this includes manufacturers reusing delineation designs, employing techniques like tilting dial plates to correct for different latitudes, and the presence of matching marks and "prick marks" on components of portable and ivory dials. This suggests a more standardised manufacturing process for many dials, especially from places like Augsburg, Nuremberg, and France.
Dials: Portable, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2006 page 180
Tony Moss
Leonard Honey
Kevin Karney
David Hindle
Claus Jensen
Brian Moss

BSS visit to Nürnberg

This multi-author report details the British Sundial Society's visit to Nürnberg, exploring historical sundials on sites like St Lawrence church (1502), the Fembo House, and various multi-faced dials in Rothenberg. The trip also included visits to St Rochus Cemetery, where gravestones of famous dial makers feature classical diptych dials.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

June 2005 page 52
Mike Cowham

The Portable Sundials of the Mary Rose

Examines eight 16th-century wooden portable sundials recovered from the Mary Rose warship. Describes their construction, provenance, decoration, and probable origin in Nuremberg, with insights into use aboard ship and wider trade networks.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

December 2005 page 154
Graham Stapleton

‘Timekumpas’ - the smallest heliochronometer?

This article introduces the "Timekumpas," a small, cigarette-lighter-sized equatorial dial patented in 1926. While it lacks precision due to its size, it is notable for being a universal instrument designed to allow for latitude, longitude, equation of time, and magnetic variation, making a "noble effort" to create a sophisticated, portable standard time indicator.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Heliochronometer, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

March 2004 page 4
Mike Cowham

Do We Need Shadow Sharpeners?

Explores methods to improve the precision of reading sundials, addressing the problem of the penumbra (fuzzy shadow) caused by the sun's finite disc. It discusses various gnomon designs, such as annular gnomons for noon marks, thin rod gnomons, and pinhole or taut wire gnomons, which create sharper shadows for more accurate time-telling.
Dials: Noon Lines, Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Sundial Design & Layout

March 2004 page 27
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings 2003

This article reviews notable sundial sales from 2003, highlighting various portable dials sold at auctions like Sotheby's and Christie's. It features different types of dials, including Butterfield dials, Universal Equinoctial Ring dials, String Gnomon dials, Miner's Dials, and a rare Elizabethan compass dial, discussing their features, makers, and sale prices.
Dials: Astrolabe, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

September 2004 page 124
P. A. Auber

The cylindrical box of Antoninus Pius — Part 1

Analysis of the small Roman bronze ‘cylindrical box’ with pierced disks in Vienna; interprets the object as a portable/rolling sundial (viatoria pensilia), applies Padre Secchi calculations and discusses mounting/suspension possibilities and function.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

December 2004 page 143
P. A. Auber

The cylindrical box of Antoninus Pius — part 2

Concluding analysis of the Roman cylindrical portable dial/box. Examines iconography, construction hypotheses (lateral hole or pivot gnomon), latitude and use-mode limitations, accuracy concerns and comparisons with related museum pieces; concludes it is plausibly a status object with limited gnomonic precision.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

March 2002 page 32
Karen Deal Robinson

Karen's Hand Sundial: A 'Digital Universal Ring Dial'

Describes a simple sundial formed purely by the hands, giving approximate time and direction towards north.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual

June 2002 page 76
Mike Cowham

Telling the Time at Night

Explores historical and modern approaches to determining time after sunset using nocturnals and other devices.
Dials: Vertical, Dials: Portable, Dials: Astrolabe, Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

June 2002 page 81
Maurice Kenn

John Harrison's Unusual and Unique Magnetic Compass

Examines a rare compass designed by Harrison, with discussion of its function and potential sundial applications.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Portable

September 2002 page 104
Frank Evans

Austria 2002: A Sundial Safari

Travelogue of the BSS tour of Austria led by Walter Hofmann, visiting monasteries, public dials, and craftspeople; rich in descriptions of painted and sculptural dials.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, The BSS and Members

December 2001 page 135
Mike Cowham

Counting the Hours

This article details ancient timekeeping systems, including Babylonian hours from sunrise, Italian hours from sunset, and the Arabs' midnight-start 24-hour day. It also explores Japanese unequal hours, divided into 12 'tokis', noting their abandonment in 1873 for international time. The evolution of numerals on sundials, from early European to Arabic and stylised forms, is also discussed.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2001 page 158
Tony Wood
Mike Cowham

Book Review

This section reviews two books. The first, a reprint of T.W. Cole's 'Origin and Use of Church Scratch-Dials,' covers mass dials and their history. The second reviews Hester Higton's 'Sundials: An Illustrated History of Portable Dials,' praised for its lavish illustrations and historical context of various portable dial types. While generally well-received, factual errors regarding dial functionality and minor layout issues are noted in Higton's work.
Book Reviews, Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

February 1999 page 19
Denys Vaughan

The Altitude Sundials of Humphrey Cole

This paper examines two unusual altitude sundials by Humphrey Cole from the Science Museum, one from 1568-1569 and another from 1574. It analyzes their unique gnomon operation for measuring sun height and reading hours, suggesting a new sub-section in sundial classification for Cole's distinctive horizontal plate altitude dials.
Dials: Portable, Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials

February 1999 page 25
Allan A. Mills

Glass Sundials

This article introduces refractive sundials made from transparent solids like glass, specifically glass paperweight sundials for window sills. The nodus is an 'aperture' on the top of the paperweight, casting a spot on a dial card on the bottom, with a more compact pattern than in air.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Sundial Design & Layout, DIY Sundial Projects

October 1999 page 139
Milutin Tadic

Old Sundials on the Territory of Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

This article surveys 214 fixed sundials in the former SFR Yugoslavia, now divided into multiple new states. It highlights a Roman spherical dial from Sremska Mitrovica, the oldest Serbian sundial at Studenica Monastery (12th century), and the horizontal dial at Belgrade Observatory. It notes the scarcity of sundials in Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina due to Turkish reign, and discusses Italian-influenced medieval stone dials on the Croatian Adriatic coast, including one in Dubrovnik with both contemporary and old Italian hour scales.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Portable, Dials: Scaphe, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

February 1998 page 10
Margaret Folkard
John Ward
Margaret Stanier (introduction)

Sun Compass Based on an Artefact Found at Uunartoq Fjord, SW Greenland

Introduces a reconstructed sun compass inspired by a Greenland find and sets it in Norse navigation: maintaining latitude by noon Sun and Polaris, with practical insights on use at high latitudes and during seasons when both Sun and star are visible.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

February 1998 page 46
Karlheinz Schaldach

A Plea for a New Look at Roman Portable Dials

Argues for re-evaluation of Roman portable dials: forms, readings and classification, urging fresh analysis of surviving pieces and their interpretation.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1998 page 30
Sarah Symons

Shadow Clocks and Sloping Sundials of the Egyptian New Kingdom and Late Period: Usage, Development and Structure

This article explores two types of ancient Egyptian sundials: L-shaped shadow clocks and sloping sundials. It discusses their religious and practical contexts, refutes the 'crossbar hypothesis' for shadow clocks, and traces the evolution of these instruments through hieroglyphs. The article concludes that these devices served as symbolic representations rather than accurate time-keepers.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

April 1997 page 2
John Moore

Portable Dials, Starting a Collection

An in-depth guide to beginning a collection of portable sundials, discussing types from wooden diptychs to Butterfield dials, with practical advice on acquisition, authenticity, and the joy of collecting these intricate timekeepers.
Dials: Portable

April 1997 page 24
Colin J. Thorne

Altitude Dials at Extreme Latitudes

An exploration of altitude dials designed for high-latitude locations, discussing their construction, adaptations, and challenges in time-telling under extreme solar conditions.
Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Sundial Design & Layout

July 1997 page 40
Fer J. de Vries

De Boerenring

The article describes the mathematics and construction of an altitude ring dial, including diagrams for delineation and discussion of its limitations.
Construction Projects, Dials: Portable, Mathematics of Dialling

October 1997 page 21
John Singleton

Folded-H Polar Dial

This article introduces a one-piece polar dial that can be cut from metal or card and folded to form a square box. Its outer limbs serve as gnomons and legs, with one gnomon for before noon and another for after. The design ensures the dial is inclined at the angle of latitude, and it operates on the same principle as the portable polar dial, with considerations for GMT hour marks at different longitudes.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Polar, Dials: Portable

October 1997 page 31
Allan A. Mills

Diptych Sundial Cards

This article describes how to make adjustable diptych sundials from card, acting as a modern, lightweight version of antique portable diptych dials. It explains the principle of two hinged plates with a taut string gnomon, a built-in compass, and the "theorem of the sundial" for adjusting to various latitudes (40-50° N and 50-60° N) by tilting the entire instrument.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Portable, Sundial Design & Layout

February 1996 page 30
Colin J. Thorne

Portable Ring Dial

Description of a compact, transportable ring dial and its operation, with construction details.
Construction Projects, Dials: Portable

June 1996 page 16
John Moore

Portable Dials - Accessories

Examines the features and design variations of historical portable sundials, discussing integrated instruments, storage cases, and accessories like compasses and perpetual calendars.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1996 page 2
John Moore

Portable Dials - Miscellany

A concluding article in a series about portable dials, detailing lesser-known types such as inclining dials, universal dials, compass dials, cube dials, and novelty items like walking stick dials, with historical context and examples.
Dials: Cube, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1996 page 25
Michael Lowne

Shepherds' Sundial

An article about simple portable sundials used by shepherds, exploring their historical use, practicality, and variations in design.
Dials: Portable

February 1995 page 9
John Moore

The London Dialmakers

An extensive account of portable sundial makers active in London from the 16th to 19th centuries, including guild affiliations, types of dials made, and notable individuals with examples of their work.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

February 1995 page 15
J. W. Findlay

Proof of the Accuracy of the Capuchin and Regiomontanus Dials using the Polar Triangle of Navigation

A mathematical demonstration using spherical trigonometry to prove the timekeeping accuracy of the Capuchin and Regiomontanus portable sundials, complete with diagrams and derivations.
Dials: Portable, Mathematics of Dialling

June 1995 page 4
John Moore

Portable Dials - Art and Decoration

A richly illustrated exploration of the decorative aspects of portable sundials, focusing on French and English craftsmanship, including engravings, ivory work, and use of precious metals and symbolic imagery.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1995 page 36
Christopher Daniel

A Modern Reproduction of an 18th Century Universal Equnoctial Sundial

An article about recreating historical sundials using modern methods, reflecting on the balance between authenticity, materials, and function.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Portable, Restoration projects

June 1995 page 39
Allan A. Mills

The Canterbury Pendant

A detailed study of a multi-faced pendant dial designed to tell time on multiple surfaces, including its design, layout, and astronomical considerations.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

October 1995 page 12
John Moore

Portable Dials – Altitude and Celestial

An illustrated survey of various historical portable sundials that use altitude and celestial methods for timekeeping. Examples include pillar dials, Regiomontanus dials, navicula, scaphe dials, and quadrants, with details on their materials, construction, and principles of operation.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

February 1994 page 3
John Moore

The Ivory Diptych Dial - Part 2

In-depth examination of historical ivory diptych sundials, particularly from Nuremberg and Dieppe, their markings, functions, and astrological and calendrical components.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

February 1994 page 17
Michael Hickman

Sun Compasses

Explores the history, theory, and military use of sun compasses, including detailed designs used by British forces and analogies with sundial mechanics.
Dials: Portable, Mathematics of Dialling

June 1994 page 7
Girolamo Fantoni

Celestial Dials: An Unusual 'Nocturnal'

This article explores early timekeeping devices designed for night use, especially nocturnals, which rely on the stars. The main focus is on an unusual 18th-century portable nocturnal made in Granada by Cecyl Yode, with reversed hour scales likely referencing Sirius and Vega. The piece blends astronomy, craftsmanship, and mystery.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1994 page 11
John Moore

Ring Dials

A comprehensive study of three classic types of ring dials: poke dials, equinoctial ring dials, and astronomical ring dials. The article examines their mechanical function, historical development, geographical usage, and craftsmanship, with detailed illustrations and commentary on their strengths and limitations in practical sundialling.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1994 page 42
René R.-J. Rohr

Portable Sundials in Ancient Rome

A historical overview of portable timekeeping devices in Roman times, such as ring dials and folding dials. The article discusses their construction, inscriptions, and cultural significance, providing archaeological context and interpretations of surviving examples.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1994 page 14
John Moore

The Augsburg Dials

This article explores the history and characteristics of sundials produced in Augsburg, Germany, particularly from the 17th century onwards. It notes Augsburg's reputation for metalworking and clockmaking, which influenced the development of ornate and complicated early sundials. The article describes the mass production of "universal equinoctial dials" from around 1700, their common design, and the incorporation of compasses and latitude lists for European towns. It also highlights finer versions made by Johann Martin and Johann Willebrand, including unique "crescent dials" and "string gnomon dials," and provides a list of known Augsburg sundial makers.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1993 page 16
John Moore

The Ivory Diptych Dial - Part I

This article discusses the history and characteristics of ivory diptych dials, originating in the 15th-16th centuries from places like Dieppe and Nuremberg. It describes their construction, materials (often ivory or bone), built-in compasses, and typical markings for various faces, noting how magnetic declination aids dating and distinguishing authentic dials from modern replicas or forgeries.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

February 1992 page 23
Maurice Kenn

Sundials used for Navigation

This article highlights the useful adoption of sundials for navigation in the 20th century, particularly in situations where magnetic compasses were unreliable. It cites examples like Admiral Byrd's "Sun Compass" for polar flights and the "Astro-Compass" used in RAF aircraft during WWII. It also mentions Brigadier Ralph A. Bagnold's "Sun-Compass" for desert exploration and Gerald Dunn's "Cruiserfix" for yachtsmen, demonstrating the sundial's value as a navigation tool.
Dials: Portable

February 1992 page 36

Letters to the Editor

This section contains several letters. H.R. Mills provides mathematical formulae for an analemmatic dial, J.G. Freeman describes the bifilar sundial with two horizontal wires, and Alex Monroe encloses a photograph of his portable equatorial dial. M.J. Cowham contributes notes on John Worgan's work, highlighting a distinctive English Rose design on his instruments.
Dials: Analemmatic, Dials: Bifilar, Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Portable

June 1992 page 3
Christopher Daniel

The Sundial at Sea

This lecture explores the practical aspects of 16th and 17th-century navigation, highlighting the crucial role of sundials and similar instruments for determining time at sea. Mariners used celestial observations for latitude, magnetic compasses for direction, and various tools like traverse boards, sand-glasses, nocturnals, astrolabes, and cross-staves for navigation and timekeeping.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

June 1992 page 17
John Moore

Portable Dials - An Introduction

This introduction to portable sundials describes them as early pocket watches, popular in sunnier regions of Europe, offering an affordable alternative to unreliable mechanical watches. It covers various designs, materials, and geographical manufacturing centres like London, Paris, Dieppe, Augsburg, and Nuremburg. The article also discusses their alignment aids, particularly magnetic compasses, and dating by magnetic variation.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1992 page 19
Charles K. Aked

Estimation of Compass Date by Magnetic Deviation

This article explains how magnetic compass deviation, which varies over time and location, can be used to estimate the date of manufacture for portable sundials incorporating compasses. It discusses historical records of magnetic variation and how these can be compared with the deviation marked on a compass bowl. Local conditions affecting magnetic fields, and the need for accurate observations are noted.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1992 page 18
John Moore

Portable Dials - The Butterfield Style

This article describes the popular "Butterfield Dial," named after Michael Butterfield of Paris (c. 1700), though the design's origin might be English. Typically octagonal, silver or brass, with a bird-supported gnomon and built-in compass, it was a decorative status symbol for international travellers. Despite criticism for its small compass and cluttered face, it remained popular, inspiring many copies and variations.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

June 1990 page 12
Lajos Bartha

16th Century Sundials found in Hungary

This preliminary report details the discovery of small bone/ivory pocket sundials during archaeological excavations in Hungarian fortresses, castles, and cloisters. It describes specific finds from Buda, Diosgyor, Poganyszentpeter, and Tata, discussing their Nuremburg origins and magnetic variation markings.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials