Sundials for the Connoisseur

Connoisseur Sundials
Lane's End, Strefford
Craven Arms, Shropshire SY7 8DE

Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1588 672126

Email : sundials@ouvip.com
Website : https://www.pleine-lune.org

HORIZONTAL DIALS

The above dial is based on a design by William Dean,C1718, which is in the Science Museum, London. It is an octagonal shape and is 25cm (10") across the flats. The pierced gnomon is particularly attractive and it has a superb compass rose as a central feature.

This dial is available in either brass [ref DSS] or bronze [ref DSZ]

This circular dial, 27.5cm (11") diameter, has a pierced gnomon similar to the previous dial. Available in brass only [ref RDS]. Both dials have an Equation of Time curve incorporated into the design. Special designs of various sizes can be made on request.

ARMILLARY SPHERES

The armillary in the centre is 50cm (20") diameter and is of solid brass that has been given an antique finish. The hours and the zodiac figures are then gilded with 24 carat gold leaf to provide a striking contrast. This dial can be adjusted for latitude. The armillaries shown at the right and the left are made in solid bronze and are available in three sizes:

38cm (15") diameter [ref 38AS] 45cm (18") diameter [ref 45AS] 60cm (24") diameter [ref 60AS]

The images show this dial in the distressed and polished states. The rings at the tropics are not normally included.

VERTICAL DIALS

DECLINING DIALS These are designed for use on walls facing a direction other than to a cardinal point. Since they are individualy designed special inscriptions can be incorporated. This dial is normally made of brass 40cm x 50cm (16"x20") but other sizes can be made on request. [ref CWS]

EoT PLATES
The time as shown on a sundial may sometimes be slow and at other times fast. The above plate enables one to correct for these differences and so bring the reading to clock time.

DIRECT SOUTH DIAL
For walls facing directly south. A bronze dial 32cm x 45cm (12.5"x18"). [ref DSZ]

EQUATORIAL DIALS

A large solid brass dial 38cm (15") diameter with a base 28cm (11") diameter. [ref EDLS]
It can also be offered with a plain rod gnomon [ref EDL] as in the dial on the far right.

The dial above, and that to the left, have specially shaped gnomons which automatically correct for the Equation of Time to read clock time. The above dial can be adjusted for latitude and longitude. It is 22.5cm (9") diameter and of solid bronze. [ref EDS]

The above dial [ref ED] is also 22.5cm (9") diameter and made of bronze. It is also adjustable for latitude.

ANALEMMATIC DIALS

Analemmatic dials are popular as interactive dials for children. They require an area of approximately 5 metres x 3 metres. When a child stands at a point, dependant on the date, the shadow of the child indicates the time.

This particular dial, designed by John Moire, has been laid out in the form of an arrow.

The dial can be made using various materials.

POLAR DIAL

Polar dials are rather unusual. They register the hours between 6.30 am and 5.30pm
The dial is made of brass and is available in two sizes --- as shown, with a dial plate 300mm x 450mm (12" x 18") [ref P2], or, a smaller size of 250mm x 300mm (10" x 12") [ref P1]. This dial is supported at an angle of 52 degrees by two pierced brass supports. For other latitudes please enquire.

ALIGNMENT DIAL - AZIMUTHAL MEAN-TIME DIAL

This dial is an entirely new concept in dial design. It takes a reading of the sun's azimuth and, by means of a series of curves, finds the correction needed to bring the reading to clock time. Each dial is designed for its own specific location and is etched with a serial number. Individual inscriptions can also be incorporated at the design stage.

There is a patent, number GB0303560.7, pending on this design, and for those who might be interested a short description is given below:

The dial consists of a cylinder (1) on top of which is a disc (2) having a series of curves (3) marked on its surface. A finger (4) is free to rotate about the centre of the disc and has a correction scale (5) marked on its surface. At the end of the finger is an alignment strip (6). This casts a shadow along the finger when facing the sun and also extends a short distance below the finger to cover the scale (7) on the collar (8). This collar is free to turn on the cylinder and below it is a time-scale (10) which is fixed to the cylinder.

To find the values for the correction curves it has been assumed that the azimuth angle for a given time is the same as the angle which that hour makes on the time-scale. Any difference is then converted to a correction in minutes of time and noted. The scale starts at the north point which is midnight.

EXAMPLE. The sun's azimuth at London at 9am GMT on 1st July is 111.2 degrees. This would indicate a time of 7.25am on the time scale and so a correction of +95 minutes would be required to bring it to clock time. Calculations of this nature are made for each hour between sunrise and sunset for the first day of each month and the correction curves are then constructed using this data. The amount of correction is also marked off on the finger (5) and on the collar (7).

To use the dial the finger is turned to face directly at the sun. This is shown when the shadow of the alignment strip (6) lies along the edge of the finger.
A reading is taken from the finger scale corresponding to the date within the curves. This reading is then transferred to scale (7) on the collar by turning the collar until the reading is in line with the bottom of the alignment strip. Clock time is then read off the time-scale.

CORPORATE GIFTS

We can offer a range of corporate gifts of attractive and unique designs onto which the name or logo of a company can be etched.

PRICE LIST