Mr. Hunt wrote: BIG SNIP! > >In response to other remarks - I am not willing to disclose the details of >our "Sunclock" design. If you own a business which has an annual turnover >not far short of $100,000 (US) - then you do not place your 'proprietorial >information' into the 'public domain', just to satisfy people's curiosity!
Perhaps you don't feel the need to mention it but, on looking at the pricing on your webpage, I see no reference to U.K. Value Added Tax which kicks in at a turnover of £52000 P.A. or US$78 000 at current exchange rates. If you aren't charging VAT on your stated turnover it would be a good idea to contact H.M. Customs & Excise without delay or you may end up designing windowsill sundials which have a number of closely-spaced steel gnomons! >If anyone wants to visit one of our layouts in a public location, and then >'reverse engineer' it - I am perfectly happy for them to do so. They will >find that there is nothing 'magic' about it, and we only claim an accuracy >to within 15 minutes (which is largely determined by the person's shadow). >In my experience, most people do not expect extreme accuracy from ANY type >of sundial - so are generally quite pleased if it agrees with their watch, >and (in practice) how many people carry a watch which is always 'spot-on'? I must agree that many people are surprised at how accurate a sundial can be BUT..... plus or minus FIFTEEN MINUTES! With due respect that seems more like a calendar than a sundial. Does this mean that if a truly vertical steel tube pylon is placed on the correct date of your dials we can only hope for an indication which can be adrift by up to fifteen minutes? I would suggest that in such a situation the shadow should split the appropriate hour marker with little observable innacuracy. Or have I just misinterpreted your statement? Tony Moss -
