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Tony Moss
September 2020
Page 28
Page 28
The author recounts the design and project management of his final large sundial: a horizontal mean time dial for his hometown of Bedlington. The stainless steel dial incorporates local history, featuring winding gear designs in the base and a Bedlington Terrier gnomon.
Dials: Horizontal, Sundial Design & Layout, Construction Projects
June 2018
Page 24
Page 24
A valedictory article detailing the author's final metal sundial commissions for Newcastle High School for Girls. He recounts the challenges of etching brass and ultimately hand-engraving the lines to ensure durability. The article marks the conclusion of his two decades of intensive dial production.
Construction Projects, Dials: Horizontal, The BSS and Members
December 2017
Page 39
Page 39
An obituary for Frank Evans (1926–2017), BSS member No. 37, a strong Bulletin contributor, who was a former Merchant Navy officer and a lecturer in marine biology.
The BSS and Members
March 2016
Page 17
Page 17
Discusses a common error made by beginners in sundial design concerning how sunrays change edges on sharp-edged gnomons at 6 am and 6 pm, in addition to the more widely known ‘noon gap’. Getting this aspect wrong results in incorrect dial layouts.
How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout
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
June 2013
Page 48
Page 48
A historical investigation into a sundial design that travelled between Holland and America, tracing its manufacture, inscriptions, and stylistic influences.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials
December 2013
Page 45
Page 45
Details the author's development of ornamental, fretted, and pierced gnomons, noting his unofficial trade mark—a spur on the heel of the front 'foot'. He describes techniques using a clockmaker's fretsaw, Thiel filing machine, and flexible-shaft machine, often featuring interlaced initials.
Construction Projects, DIY Sundial Projects, Dialling Tools, Sundial Design & Layout
March 2012
Page 38
Page 38
This short piece describes a tradition of local people climbing an artificial hill to view the Silver-link Park sundial at midnight on New Year's Eve to watch firework displays, highlighting a unique, non-gnomonic interaction with the sundial.
The BSS and Members
December 2012
Page 42
Page 42
This article addresses methods for securely fixing sundials, focusing on preventing theft and damage. It discusses replacing rusted iron gnomons with stainless steel, using shaped stone blocks with acrylic paste, and cross-bolting for heavy gnomons. For dial plates, methods include recessing them into plinths and using threaded holes with retaining bolts.
Construction Projects, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout
March 2011
Page 11
Page 11
The author explores methods for accurately dividing sundial scales without modern dividing engines. He proposes a compact, semi-mechanical system using pivot pins and a straightedge, designed to fit on a bench, and notes its superiority over Ramsden's engine in terms of user comfort.
Construction Projects, Dialling Tools, Sundial Design & Layout
June 2010
Page 37
Page 37
This article details the practical construction challenges and solutions for the Chime Dial. The author describes the difficulties in achieving a sharp sunray cutoff for the Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) due to internal reflections and the need for blackened brass shims.
Sundial Design & Layout, Construction Projects
March 2009
Page 48
Page 48
This entry describes an inventive "Ye Sundyal Alarme Bafic Modelle" and a "Deluxe modelle" The basic model uses sunlight focused by a cylindrical lens to heat a copper ball, melting wax that triggers a mousetrap and a bell. The deluxe version also lights a fire for a morning posset, offering a creative, if anachronistic, take on sundial functionality.
Dials: Unusual, DIY Sundial Projects
December 2009
Page 43
Page 43
A multi-authored, day-by-day account of the society's annual week-long tour, this year through East Anglia. The report details the many historical and modern dials visited in Suffolk, Norwich, Essex, and surrounding areas, providing a travelogue of the group's discoveries and activities.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members
June 2007
Page 64
Page 64
This article describes an improved, easier method for making brass and bronze disks for sundials, specifically using double-sided adhesive tape and a lathe chuck. It offers a simpler alternative to previous laborious methods, suitable for various disk sizes up to the lathe's maximum capacity.
Construction Projects, DIY Sundial Projects
September 2007
Page 124
Page 124
This article provides a simple modification to standard drills to safely and effectively drill brass, which is often described as a greedy metal that can cause drills to dig-in aggressively. The technique involves blunting the drill's cutting edge to a vertical flat so it scrapes rather than cuts, requiring a separate set of modified drills.
DIY Sundial Projects
February 2006
Page 35
Page 35
This article details the intricate process of creating a 30-inch bronze replica of the Henry Wynne dial. It covers pattern making, casting, and challenging precision machining operations, including overcoming issues with a gnomon that was initially too short and perfecting a complex knife-edge. The project required meticulous effort and problem-solving.
Construction Projects, Dials: Double Horizontal, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout
December 2006
Page 177
Page 177
Tony Moss provides instructions for crafting replacement springs for Pilkington & Gibbs Helio-Chronometers. The article outlines using a rolling jig to shape half-hard brass, enhancing its properties through work-hardening and planishing. This ensures the springs function correctly, highlighting traditional metalworking techniques adapted for precise instrument repair.
Construction Projects, DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Heliochronometer
December 2006
Page 180
Page 180
This multi-author report details the British Sundial Society's visit to Nürnberg, exploring historical sundials on sites like St Lawrence church (1502), the Fembo House, and various multi-faced dials in Rothenberg. The trip also included visits to St Rochus Cemetery, where gravestones of famous dial makers feature classical diptych dials.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members
February 2000
Page 45
Page 45
Report on the North American Sundial Society conference, with discussions on topics presented.
The BSS and Members
October 1997
Page 26
Page 26
Report on a "Green Day" event in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where British Sundial Society members set up a display to promote sundialling. Despite poor weather, they engaged with visitors, including the Lady Lord Mayor, and provided information about sundials. The author notes that while it may not have significantly advanced "Green Issues or the cause of Sundialling," it created a pleasant opportunity for members to discuss dials.
The BSS and Members