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July 1997
The articles link to the specific page in a PDF optimised for speed. If you want the whole issue, you can download it here, but the files from earlier years can be quite large.
July 1997
Page 1
Page 1
A message from the new editor introducing himself and his aims for the bulletin, as well as a tribute to the retiring editor Charles Aked. It notes the cosmopolitan nature of the contributions and encourages members to submit snippets about interesting sundials.
The BSS and Members
July 1997
Page 2
Page 2
A story, written as a children's tale, explaining the signs of the zodiac and the constellations. An editorial note explains the recent addition of the constellation Ophiuchus to the ecliptic, which has implications for the sign of Scorpio.
July 1997
Page 3
Page 3
This article provides a historical overview of sundials in Israel, from ancient biblical references and archaeological artifacts to sundial makers of the 20th century. It describes various types of dials, including hemicycliums, portable stone dials, and modern vertical and horizontal dials.
Dials: Hemispherical, Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials
July 1997
Page 8
Page 8
A short piece about the south-facing sundial designed and built by George and Robert Stephenson in 1816, of which they were very proud, delineating it from first principles.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials
July 1997
Page 9
Page 9
This article describes three QBASIC computer programs for designing sundials. The programs can be used for plotting horizontal garden dials and various types of vertical wall dials.
Dialling Tools, Sundial Design & Layout
July 1997
Page 10
Page 10
An article discussing the amount of actual sunshine received in a given year in Ipswich, England, compared to the theoretical maximum. It includes graphs of daily sunshine data from 1996 and notes how environmental factors like trees can affect a sundial's performance.
How Sundials Work
July 1997
Page 12
Page 12
This article details the construction of a pair of analemmic sundials mounted on the south corner of a building in Istanbul, Turkey. It describes the design of the dials, which are made of white marble with bronze gnomons, the shadows of whose points fall on analemmas of hours and half-hours.
Construction Projects, Sundial Design & Layout
July 1997
Page 13
Page 13
Describes the making of an unusual device for regulating watches following a design from 1895. It finds solar noon, by measuring the times the sun is at the same elevation just before and after noon, using a sighting mechanism floating in a can of water to ensure it is horizontal.
Dials: Unusual, Dialling Tools, DIY Sundial Projects
July 1997
Page 15
Page 15
This article investigates a window dial in a church at Apuldram, using a vertical gnomon, thus being accurate on only two days in the year, one of which is the patronal saints day. It discusses the history of the church and the dial, and that the architectural changes to the church mean that the dial is now shaded for half the time.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials
July 1997
Page 18
Page 18
Guide to producing printed dialling scales using spreadsheet calculations and desktop publishing, enabling accurate layout of sundials.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dialling Tools, Mathematics of Dialling
July 1997
Page 20
Page 20
This article explores the history and function of the sundial at Chartres Cathedral, which is known as 'The Angel of Chartres'. It discusses how the dial provided local solar time and served as a benchmark for timekeeping, even after the introduction of mechanical clocks.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials
July 1997
Page 22
Page 22
A review of a cut-out book titled 'Sundials and Timedials' that allows readers to create their own card sundials. The author recommends it as a simple and unusual introduction to sundial construction.
Book Reviews, Construction Projects
July 1997
Page 24
Page 24
Lecture on meridian lines in Europe, their scientific and historical significance, and notable examples.
Dials: Noon Lines
July 1997
Page 29
Page 29
July 1997
Page 32
Page 32
The author recounts giving a speech about sundials at the Royal Astronomical Society Club. He presents a witty poem that he wrote in response to a verse by Hilaire Belloc that claimed watches are better than sundials. The poem highlights the various functions and advantages of sundials.
The BSS and Members
July 1997
Page 33
Page 33
A tribute to Charles K. Aked, a founding member and the first editor of the British Sundial Society Bulletin. The article details his career as a scientist, his contributions to horology and dialling, and his crucial role in establishing the BSS.
The BSS and Members
July 1997
Page 34
Page 34
Description of a very large, notable sundial in Pajala, Sweden, north of the Arctic Circle.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Unusual
July 1997
Page 35
Page 35
July 1997
Page 36
Page 36
July 1997
Page 37
Page 37
A corrected version of a table of compass directions of ports on four Bonar sundials
Historical Dials
July 1997
Page 38
Page 38
Report on a commemorative sundial project dedicated to James Taylor, a former BSS member, including design and symbolism.
Construction Projects, Sundial Design & Layout, The BSS and Members
July 1997
Page 40
Page 40
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
July 1997
Page 43
Page 43
This article details the design and construction of the Guernsey Liberation Monument, which includes a sundial as a central feature. The shadow falls on a curved bench with markers at times of significant events calibrated for the annual Liberation Day, 19 May. It discusses the challenges and the methods used to ensure the dial's accuracy and the shadow's visibility.
Construction Projects, Dials: Unusual, Sundial Design & Layout
July 1997
Page 50
Page 50
A themed crossword puzzle for members of the British Sundial Society.
July 1997
Page 52
Page 52
Report on a successful one-day meeting of the BSS in Newbury, with talks, exhibitions, discussion and socialising
The BSS and Members
July 1997
Page 53
Page 53
This article describes a new sundial being commissioned for the Fellow's Garden at Christ Church, Oxford. It discusses the design competition and the winning entry.
Dials: Cube, Dials: Multi Faced, Sundial Design & Layout
July 1997
Page 54
Page 54
A summary of the British Sundial Society's conference in Penrith. It describes various lectures and events, including a talk on a restored sundial, a discussion of Fred Sawyer's Asteroid Dial, and a presentation on the Windsor dial.
The BSS and Members