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December 2014
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.
December 2014
Page 1
Page 1
This section discusses the necessity of having three members (the Chairman, Bill Visick, and Christine Northeast) hold the fort due to the regular editor suffering significant health problems. It recognizes John Davis’s past contributions to expanding and improving the Bulletin. The Trustees are currently considering how best to distribute the editorial workload going forward.
The BSS and Members
December 2014
Page 2
Page 2
This article describes a unique horizontal sundial/meridian instrument constructed by Claude Langlois in 1741 for Alexandre de la Rochefoucauld at the château de la Roche-Guyon. The instrument features a large brass box gnomon with a slit and seven eyelets, allowing the spots of light to correspond to significant dates, such as the solstices and the entry of the sun into zodiac signs.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Noon Lines, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials
December 2014
Page 5
Page 5
A report detailing a trip to northern Brittany to view approximately 24 vertical slate dials, primarily located on churches and dating from 1570 to 1750. These dials are typically round and carved in relief, featuring decorative motifs like the sun and moon, and often use Arabic numerals. Specific examples shown include dials at Saint Herbot (1587) and Pleyben (1619).
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials
December 2014
Page 8
Page 8
An account of sundials found in and around Campinas, Brazil, specifically mentioning the Observatorio Municipal de Campinas, founded by Jean Nicolini. The observatory site holds three dials (horizontal, vertical, and equatorial), though their condition varies. Other documented dials include one in Parque Taquaral (1962) and two at the Americana Observatory.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, Dials: Equatorial
December 2014
Page 11
Page 11
Tony Wood discusses canonical dials found in France and Spain that explicitly mark the prayer hours of Prime, Terce, Midi, Nones, and Vespers. Doug Bateman clarifies an error in a previous conference report, confirming that E. J. Dent made the improved machinery for the Greenwich time ball, while John Hardcastle designed a rare mean time dial.
Dials: Mass Dials, Equation of Time, Historical Dials
December 2014
Page 12
Page 12
This article examines Scottish mercat (market) crosses that incorporate sundials, such as those described by Thomas Ross. These are symbolic structures, often featuring multi-faced cube dials. Examples discussed include the Peebles cross (1662 cube sundial) and the Airth cross (1697). The author notes the common issues of relocation and subsequent restoration/damage.
Dials: Cube, Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials
December 2014
Page 19
Page 19
The author shares an inspiring anecdote about a young boy named Stephen who made a Plasticine dial. In response, a personalized phosphor bronze dial was made for him, which in turn encouraged Stephen's father to create his own digital MDF dial. This illustrates how new diallists can be cultivated from small, genuine sparks of interest.
DIY Sundial Projects, The BSS and Members
December 2014
Page 20
Page 20
A detailed report on the restoration of a badly worn carved wooden vertical dial, dated 1765, found on Nazeing Church tower. Due to the dial's poor condition, a new chestnut wood replacement was crafted by Barrie Winter. The design analysis confirmed the motto “Meridies Solarium” and the inclusion of solar azimuth lines.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout
December 2014
Page 24
Page 24
The discovery and dating of a horizontal sundial at Littlecote House, made by George Adams Snr, instrument maker to George III. Analysis of the maker’s mark and the 'Æquation of Natural Days' table (which uses pre-1752 Julian calendar dates) helped date the dial to the 14-year period between 1738 and 1752.
Dials: Horizontal, Equation of Time, Historical Dials
December 2014
Page 26
Page 26
This is a story of a sundial commission which started out full of promise, but has ended up as a sundial which has never had a chance to tell the time, and which now never sees the sun.
Dials: Horizontal, Sundial Design & Layout, Construction Projects
December 2014
Page 27
Page 27
A summary of the Newbury BSS meeting, covering diverse topics including David Brown's talk on commission pitfalls and Kevin Karney's push for mean time dials incorporating the Equation of Time. Frank King reported on historical dials at the Bodleian Library. Attendees viewed the Druid helical mean-time dial at Bayford House Care Home.
Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout, The BSS and Members