This is a remote reading dial using fibre optics. In the prototype, the collector and display are quite close together, but in practice they could be as far apart as necessary. The idea is to have the collector in the garden, and the display inside the house.
If you would like to read a full report on the dial, click here
Richard Schmoyer devised this“Sunquest” equatorial mean time dial. It is adjustable for latitude, longitude and Daylight Saving time. The Equation of Time correction is made using a specially curved slot in the middle of the moveable gnomon.
For a full explanation of the dial, and more pictures, click here
Another of the inventive Chris Lusby Taylor’s ideas. An equatorial dial which uses the edge of a cylinder to cast the shadow, rather than having a gnomon at the centre. As the chord angle subtended to the edge of a circle is half the angle subtended to the centre, the hour marks are still equally spaced, but cover only 12 hours rather than 24. There are two gnomons, one above the equatorial plane, and the other below, and they are offset by one hour (30 degrees). So, when the sun is high in the sky, the dial reads “summer” time, and when it is low, it reads “normal” time. Thus the dial automatically changes with the clock change.
Unfortunately, the authorities refuse to change the clocks at the equinox, so there is some overlap.
Kate Pond has based a sculpture on this design. I’m pleased to say that I have one of Kate’s original sculptures - see here
A small Direct East West dial made by Harriet James.
Each face has a series of analemma, so the dial will give clock time, but only at half hourly intervals.
