February 1998
Page 2

Editorial

The editor reflects on balancing forward-looking dial design with historical studies, noting readers’ diverse interests and reaffirming a policy that each issue should include something for everybody.
The BSS and Members

February 1998
Page 3

The Sellotape Sundial: A Modern Version of Wheatstone’s Polarization Dial of 1848

Explains a shadow-free sundial using sky polarization: a fan of Sellotape (cellophane) sectors is viewed with an analyser at the Brewster angle. The brightest sector (or equal adjacent sectors) indicates hours and half-hours, and the dial can work with the Sun behind cloud or after sunset.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Unusual

Allan A. Mills

February 1998
Page 10

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

Margaret Folkard
John Ward
Margaret Stanier (introduction)

February 1998
Page 13

A Cushion Sundial

Notes an article from 1896 describing a dial found in a tomb of the VII or VIIIth century, with equal hour lines, which would be the earliest known dial in Europe with 'astronomical' hours.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

Nicola Severino

February 1998
Page 14

Dunchurch Lodge and the Heliochronometer

A site note on a heliochronometer at Dunchurch Lodge, describing layout, reading, and mechanical features of this precision time-telling instrument and its context on the estate.
Dials: Heliochronometer, Historical Dials

Graham Aldred

February 1998
Page 16

Book Review

A short notice assessing a BIBLOGRAFIA DELLA GNOMONICA by Nicola Severino
Book Reviews

February 1998
Page 18

Journal Reviews

Round-up of recent articles and notes on sundials and gnomonics from a range of journals and proceedings, with concise comments to guide readers to useful sources.
Book Reviews

Charles K. Aked

February 1998
Page 19

The Poulton Hall Sundial

Describes the Poulton Hall dial on the Wirral peninsula: setting, design features and inscriptions, with observations on the equation of time using the pre-Gregorian calendar, an the lack of a noon gap.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

Mike Shaw

February 1998
Page 21

A Golden Wedding Dial

A commemorative dial marking a golden wedding, covering layout, materials and the celebratory inscription, with remarks on siting and legibility.
Construction Projects, Dials: Vertical, Mottoes

Alan Smith

February 1998
Page 22

Sundials Painted in the Cloister of an Italian Monastery

Survey of painted dials in a monastery cloister at Taggia (Imperia), noting multiple faces, canonical hours and decorative treatments, with historical context and observations on preservation.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

Mario Arnaldi

February 1998
Page 26

Analemmatic Dial with a Fixed Gnomon

Proposes an analemmatic dial that retains a fixed upright gnomon by drawing a series of ellipses, scaling and shifting them to avoid crossing lines and confusion when reading it.
Dials: Analemmatic, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

John Singleton

February 1998
Page 28

A 19th Century Vernacular Horizontal Sundial from Outback Australia

Field note on a simple home-made vernacular horizontal dial from outback Australia, describing fabric, gnomon form and scale, with comments on accuracy of delineation and local use.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

John Pickard

February 1998
Page 30

Reflecting Sundials

Describes novel non-shadow dials using reflectors. Parabolic and cylindrical forms generate bright caustic lines on a screen; hour indication follows motion of the cusp or inner edge. Includes formulae, constructional notes and an aperture version using a sundial curve.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Reflected, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

Michael Lowne

February 1998
Page 36

Four Meridian Lines in Rome

Account of four meridian lines in Rome: noon-mark function, layout and observational practice, with notes on accuracy and historical purpose.
Dials: Noon Lines, Historical Dials

Nicoletta Lanciano

February 1998
Page 39

Readers’ Letters

Correspondence from members on recent articles, dial sightings, methods and queries, adding corrections, experience and requests for opinions.
The BSS and Members

February 1998
Page 42

Editor’s Notes

Short editorial notices and clarifications, including corrections, follow-ups and production notes.
The BSS and Members

February 1998
Page 43

Dial Dealings

A roundup of recent dial-related sales

Mike Cowham

February 1998
Page 46

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

Karlheinz Schaldach