Stained Glass Sundial Tech Info

[John Carmichael]

Hello all:   Dave Bell and I have completely redone the Technical Information Page of the Stained Glass Sundial website with all new graphics and lots of very useful technical details. This took us three months.  With the help of several glass artisans, and knowledge I've learn from my stained glass class and glass websites, we have incorporated information from the glass artisan's point of view too. This section now has nearly all the necessary information that both designers and artisans will need to design and build a stained glass sundial window.  By the way, since stained glass sundials windows are usually vertical wall dials, you'll find much practical information here that pertains to vertical dials as well.  (such as the effects of roof eave summer shading and gnomon design, types and attachment).   For the first time, we have posted a series of photographs showing most of the steps involved in the design and assembly of a stained glass sundial.  These are photos I took of the assembly of my class project: The Gecko Prototype Dial (see in website Photo Collection/Stained Glass Sundials/21st Century/Dial 94).   I know that many of you love to design sundials but don't make them.  I was surprised to find out that most glass artisans charge what seems to be a very reasonable price for their services.  Most of them charge by the square foot, inch or square millimeter. I've heard prices ranging from $.25/ sq. in. up to $75./sq. foot.  This means that you could get your design built at a reasonable price. Stained Glass artisans are numerous and easy to find.  It should be no more difficult for you to design a glass sundial window than a vertical wall dial.  You might consider having your next design be a stained glass window.  We need to get more built!   But I've also learned that making them is much easier than I thought it would be.  Making a stained glass sundial is much easier than making a comparable one in stone or metal.  We have ten students in the stained glass class and none are professional artists, yet everybody quickly learned the techniques required. You should not be intimidated.  If you're interested in learning stained glass, you can usually find a class in your local stained glass supply shop. Most large cities have several.  And I might add that not much equipment is needed and it's not an expensive hobby.   See the new SGS Tech Page at: http://www.advanceassociates.com/Sundials/Stained_Glass/TechInfo.html or SGS Home Page at: http://www.advanceassociates.com/Sundials/Stained_Glass/   p.s. Did you know that there is only ONE known stained glass sundial permanently installed ANYWHERE outside of Europe?  We must change this!   p.p.s I noticed in my BSS issue that there is a BSS "Awards Scheme" that is designed to encourage the making of new dials and to promote restoration of existing dials.  A very good candidate for a restoration project would be the beautiful 1909 Didsbury Old Parsonage Sundial that has been lost.  Its wonderful Bay Window is still in place, but the dial is gone.  In one of his Clock articles, Chris Daniel mentioned this would be a wonderful project and I completely agree.  Maybe one of you English guys would like to consider working on making a replacement for this lost dial.  (see Dial 71 in Photo Collection)   p.p.p.s. In front of everybody, I want to thank Dave Bell for putting up with me and for the donation of a great deal of his time.