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June 2005
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.
June 2005
Page 47
Page 47
Explains how direction cosines can be used to precisely design planar sundials. The method eliminates inaccuracies of graphical construction by calculating hour lines, declination lines, and style parameters mathematically, with examples for horizontal, vertical, and declining dials, and comparison with conventional calculation methods.
Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout
June 2005
Page 51
Page 51
Review of the 1633 Spanish carpentry manual ‘Carpinteria de lo Blanco’, which includes four chapters on sundial construction using graphical methods, plus a supplement on moon dials and latitude tables.
Book Reviews
June 2005
Page 52
Page 52
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
June 2005
Page 58
Page 58
Report on an equatorial sundial in Domaso, Lake Como. Describes its construction, inscriptions, and unusual alignment to indicate clock time (at noon, inaccurate at other times) rather than true solar time, with observations of performance and speculation on design choices.
Dials: Equatorial, Historical Dials
June 2005
Page 60
Page 60
Accounts the design and installation of twin sundials—horizontal and vertical—on a basalt boulder at the Scots Hotel in Tiberias. Includes design features, analemmas, inscriptions, and collaborative process between designer and hotel staff.
Construction Projects, Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, Sundial Design & Layout
June 2005
Page 61
Page 61
A short, light-hearted poem likening the dandelion flower and seed head to a natural sundial, marking sunny hours by its bloom and dispersal of seeds.
Mottoes
June 2005
Page 62
Page 62
Describes unusually large and small mass dials in Worcestershire and Kent. Discusses their features, visibility, and historical significance within the tradition of church sundials.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials
June 2005
Page 63
Page 63
Letter recommending WinEphem software for calculating moon transit times useful for moondials. Notes features such as rise/set/transit data and accuracy for dialling purposes.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Nocturnals
June 2005
Page 64
Page 64
Investigation of unusual rows of holes in a declining painted dial partially obscured by a church clock. Considers possible purposes such as securing plaster or transfer of design, raising questions about early construction methods.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials
June 2005
Page 65
Page 65
Historical account of a 1743 theft trial at the Old Bailey where a man was sentenced to transportation for stealing a sundial. Includes details of the dial’s maker, Thomas Wright, and speculation on its fate.
Historical Dials
June 2005
Page 65
Page 65
Review excerpt from the Dutch Sundial Society journal praising Mike Cowham’s ‘A Dial in Your Poke’ for unique insights into portable sundials, calendars, replicas, and restoration methods.
Book Reviews
June 2005
Page 66
Page 66
Continues analysis of how the Equation of Time was represented on sundials, with historical examples and refinements in accuracy by 17th and 18th century astronomers.
Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling
June 2005
Page 75
Page 75
Observations about a photo in the Register that happens to capture a fly on a horizontal dial, echoing the flies often depicted on stained glass window dials.
Dials: Horizontal
June 2005
Page 77
Page 77
Suggestion of a "Top 10" of sundials in Wiltshire, highlighting their variety, locations, and historical interest.
The BSS and Members
June 2005
Page 78
Page 78
Short note describing an apparently south-facing vertical dial, that is likely accurately laid out for its small declination.
Dials: Vertical
June 2005
Page 78
Page 78
Announcement and results of the BSS photographic competition, showcasing notable sundial photography entries.
The BSS and Members
June 2005
Page 81
Page 81
Report on the BSS Annual Conference held at Royal Holloway College. Summarises lectures, visits, and activities from the event.
The BSS and Members