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March 2022
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.
March 2022
Page 1
Page 1
This section highlights articles in the issue, including a portable sundial from the Lviv Historical Museum, West Coast obelisks, a vanished sundial in Great Yarmouth, a Welsh slate dial investigation, a new dial at Peterhof, and the Westminster School sundial. It also informs readers that the Annual Report and Accounts will be published in the June issue.
The BSS and Members
March 2022
Page 2
Page 2
An analysis of a unique 17th-century pocket compass dial (MT-1838) from the Lviv Historical Museum, dedicated to Jerzy Ossoliński and designed by Oswald Krüger in 1644. It features both horizontal and azimuthal scales. The author and associates created two functional replicas for customers in Ukraine, adapting the design for modern latitudes.
Construction Projects, Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials
March 2022
Page 8
Page 8
Description of a brass sundial (c. 1658–1693) made by clockmaker William Holloway of Stroud. It is provincial in style, featuring crude engraving and an incorrect replacement gnomon angle of 54.5°. Holloway's workshop location still stands in Stroud.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout
March 2022
Page 10
Page 10
A report on the unveiling ceremony for the Bedlington sundial, made by Tony Moss, in December 2021. The large dial, located in the Market Square, commemorates the town's coal mining heritage and incorporates a Bedlington terrier motif in its undershot gnomon.
Construction Projects, Sundial Design & Layout
March 2022
Page 11
Page 11
Details the design and construction of a war memorial sun mark installed in Bolam Parish churchyard. The memorial, created using rusty iron shepherd's hut wheels, is designed to precisely mark 11 am on 11 November by focusing a spot of light through an aperture onto a poppy medallion.
Construction Projects, Dials: Unusual, Sundial Design & Layout
March 2022
Page 14
Page 14
Examination of four ancient obelisk sundials located near the West Coast of Scotland, following descriptions by Thomas Ross. Sites include Ballindalloch, Lochgoilhead, Asknish House, and Mount Stuart. It also reports on the rediscovery of the mutilated Ardgowan lectern sundial and describes a cube dial at Ardgowan.
Dials: Cube, Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, Restoration projects
March 2022
Page 20
Page 20
Analysis of a postcard featuring a simple horizontal sundial located next to the Boating Lake in the Great Yarmouth Venetian Waterways. Although the waterways were restored recently, the sundial appears to have vanished or was not repaired, as suggested by earlier photos showing a missing gnomon.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Restoration projects
March 2022
Page 21
Page 21
A collection of three letters: John Wilson reports on the theft of a Gunning heliochronometer from Belvoir Castle. Irene Brightmer investigates whether the maker of her 1812 slate dial, Griffith Dafydd, is the same person as Griffith Davies FRS, maker of a prize-winning 1820 dial. Kevin Karney provides a correction on the naming of his 'spider dial'.
Dials: Heliochronometer, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout
March 2022
Page 24
Page 24
An examination of an old horizontal sundial (c. late 17th/early 18th century) highlighting mistakes made during a poor gnomon replacement. Errors included cutting the angle incorrectly (40.0° instead of the design latitude 52.5° marked on the back), using mild steel that rusted, and using modern Pozidriv screws for attachment.
Dials: Horizontal, Mathematics of Dialling, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout
March 2022
Page 26
Page 26
A historical account and description of the 2021 reconstruction project of the horizontal sundial for the Monplaisir Palace at Peterhof, residence of Peter the Great. The new marble dial, with a gilded bronze gnomon, was installed in the location of the lost 18th-century predecessor. The article also touches on Peterhof's museum collection, including a 1715 John Rowley dial.
Construction Projects, Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Restoration projects
March 2022
Page 30
Page 30
An article commemorating the creation and unveiling (2007) of the sundial at Westminster School, dedicated to former teacher Adolf Prag and his wife. Designed by Harriet James, the dial is based on Newton's ellipse, includes an Equation of Time graph, and features golden hemispherical hollows referencing scaphe dials.
Dials: Vertical, Sundial Design & Layout, Construction Projects, Equation of Time
March 2022
Page 32
Page 32
An analysis of the unusual longitude inscription found on the St Mark’s, Longwood dial. By comparison with the Hawkshead dial, it is concluded that the inscription refers to the 'Plane’s Longitude,' which defines the longitude where the dial could be used horizontally, and is numerically equal to the hour angle between the substyle and noon lines.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout
March 2022
Page 33
Page 33
A cautionary article detailing how to spot fake antique sundials, using an octagonal dial signed 'I Myatt Bath fecit / 1745' as a case study. Despite good engraving, clues like the unusual 'holey' gnomon and XRF tests showing 20th-century brass reveal it to be a modern, well-produced deception.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members
March 2022
Page 34
Page 34
Description of a unique portable, universal cross dial made by Samuel Porter, a London mathematical instrument maker (c. 1824). The dial, found in a clearance, features a pivoted cross for latitude setting, a 16-point compass, spirit levels, and an Equation of Time table printed inside the lid.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Portable, Equation of Time, Historical Dials
March 2022
Page 36
Page 36
A review of Denis Savoie's comprehensive book, Une Histoire des Cadrans Solaire en Occident. La gnomonique du Moyen Âge au XXe siècle. The book covers the history and development of gnomonics in the West from the Middle Ages through to the 20th century, and is well-illustrated.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials