Dear Friends, I would like to report back to my correspondent at Randolph Air Force Base about the unusual and badly damaged sundial which has been discussed in this list.
For reference, here are the two Web sites where you can see the dial. These sites have have not been changed since they were placed on line. The original page: http://www.shadow.net/~bobt/rafb/ A report by Fernando Cabral, who visited the dial: http://www.shadow.net/~bobt/rafb/report/ Below are my tentative conclusions. I would like to know if the members of this list agree with them, or what other options they might be able to offer. 1) It is unclear from the remaining parts how the dial was originally constructed. 2) The dial is too badly damaged to restore with only the parts that remain. It might be rebuilt in some other form with some time and expense, but the rebuilt dial would not be true to the original. 3) While interesting and perhaps unique, the dial does not appear to have been a particularly well-made or precision instrument when new. 4) A restoration might be possible if the original plans could be found. This would involve tracking down the maker, Fred H. Hagner or his family. Conclusion: The expense of restoring or rebuilding this dial would not justify the result. Randoph Air Force Base should consider replacing it with a new dial. (And here I would like to list some sources for armillary dials - I do not have such a list.) The existing dial should be safely stored with other base historical material or donated to a local museum or appropriate organization. -- finis -- Please give me your thoughts, Bob Terwilliger
