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Hello Sundial List SGS enthusiasts:
I have some wonderful news. I just got a
letter from a stained glass artisan, Carol Arnold, in Somerset Bristol England,
who has been asked to make a replacement dial reproduction of the famous stolen
Nailsea Court Dial for its original building and its original window in
Somerset!!!! She actually knows the owners of the building where the
Nailsea Court dial was located.
This is great news for me because it shows that the
SGS website is producing the desired results: more SGS.
But I am most concerned that she does a good job
with it. (she is NOT a dialist). We need to take her under our wings and
help her so she doesn't make any mistakes. She will need a professional
British dialist to measure the wall's declination so that we can design the
gnomon and double check the dial's hourline markings.
I told her to try to contact Christiopher Daniel,
since this dial is his specialty. By coincidence, he just gave a talk on
it at Oxford in April. I gave her his phone number and address. I am
sure Chris would want to be involved in this project. But I have a
horrible time ever reaching Chris by email since he doesn't use computers much,
and I don't think he checks his emails often.
So if any of you talk to Chris, would you tell him
about this wonderful project and to make contact with her?
If Chris can't help her, then we must try to find
some dialist who lives near Somerset who would be able to measure the wall
declination of the building and help with the gnomon installation.
Things like this make my day!
John
p.s. Below is the exchange of letters between Carol
Arnold and me.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2004 2:51 PM
Subject: Re: nailsea sundial
Hello Carol:
I was so excited to hear that you have a commission to make a reproduction
of the Naisea Court Dial when I skimmed over your first letter that I
didn't read it carefully enough and didn't notice your website listing at the
bottom (You do beautiful work, by the way!) or note that you said it would be
going in its original location. This is VERY exciting news!!
I must insist that you contact Chris Daniel (by phone or letter since he
doesn't like computers and rarely checks his emails). He would most
definitely like and want to help you I'm sure. In case he can't, let me
know and I will get one of my British dialing colleagues to help you measure the
wall declination and design the face and gnomon.
If the dial is going in the same window, the dial face was
probably designed correctly the first time. But you should have Chris (or
some other professional dialist) double check the declination measurements and
the dial face just to be sure. They or I will help you with your gnomon
design and attachment.
Here is Chris's address & phone. PLEASE contact him. He
will be most upset if you don't! He's a real nice old gentleman and very
knowledgeable. He may even give you some suggestions as to what to charge
your clients.
Please let me know when you reach him and if you need any for help from
me. If Chris can't help you I will find a dialist who lives near the house
where the dial will go.
Mr. Christopher Daniel
8 The Maltings
Abbey Street
FAVERSHAM
Kent ME13 7DU
Tel: 01795 531804
(he often does not answer his emails, better use the phone)
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2004 12:32
PM
Subject: Re: nailsea sundial
Hi John,
Thanks for your enthusiastic reply! I haven't quoted for the job yet,
because I wasnt sure how much technical advice I would need, and how much it
would cost to design and make the gnomon and secure it, let alone do the
artwork. The owners of the property are very interested in re-creating the
dial, but working out a price is difficult at this stage!
In answer to your list of questions -
1. Nailsea Court, its "original" location, in the exact window. Latitude
51degrees 24.5 minutes, longitude 2 degrees 46.75 minutes west.
2. Presumably 261mm by 187mm the size given in CD's article which I
read.
3. I need to go and see. Books have shon me how to make a simple
instrument using a nail and plumbline to measure displacement of end of shadow
at a particular time. Would be more than happy to go with an expert to do
this. I live 4miles from Bristol and 4 miles from Nailsea court, in a village
called Flax Bourton. Yes would like to get in touch which Christopher
Daniel.
4. Yes, self-employed.
5. Currently at art college one day a week learning glass painting, yes
and kiln-firing.
6. Not planned.
7. I dont think so.
8. When I have secured the commission I will send you photos.
Regards and thanks,
Carol
John Carmichael
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hello
Carol:
This is wonderful and exciting news! It's great that you are
going to make
a reproduction of the famous Nailsea Court Dial. It won't
be the first
reproduction made of it. There have been several, most of
which were rather
poorly done.
We must make sure that yours is
correct and tells the time! I will gladly
help you all I can at no charge
so that you don't make any mistakes. I'll
even calculate and draw out the
hour lines and the gnomon design for you.
But I can't answer your
question about the gnomon design until I ask you
some questions
first.
I have several questions and suggestions already. If you would
be so
kind...
QUESTIONS
1. Where on earth will it be located?
(street, city, postal code. Or the
latitude and longitude if you already
know it).,
2. What will be the dimensions of the outside of its oval
frame? (Do you
know this already, or do you need my help to find
out?)
3. What is the declination of the window in the building? (what
direction
does the wall face?)
note: This is not as easy to
determine as you might think and is critically
important to the design of
the dial face and the gnomon. You might need
professional help to
determine the window declination. (do NOT trust a
magnetic compass or GPS
for this!) There are many expert sundial designers
in Great Britain and I
personally know most of them. They also I'm sure
would be anxious to help
you with this or any other aspect of your sundial
design. If you tell me
where you live, I can put you in contact with one
who lives near you.
Then he could visit the location and take measurements
of the building to
determine its declination.
In fact, the world's expert on the Nailsea
Dial is the president of the
British Sundial Society, Mr. Christopher
Daniel. Coincidentally, he gave a
talk on it at the BSS conference in
Oxford last April!!! He's also written
several articles about it. He
would LOVE to help you! I have his address
and phone number if you want
it. (Note that our SGS website is dedicated to
him).
4. Are you a
professional strained glass glazier?
5. Are you a glass painter too,
and will the glass be painted and
kiln-fired?
6. Will the stained
glass have a protective or thermal outer pane of clear
glass? (this also
is critical to the gnomon design).
7. Is there a roof overhang over
the window? (If so, how far above the
window, and how far does it
extend).
8. Will you be able to make and send me a drawing of the
building wall
showing the window frame, estimated position of the
sundial, and the
roofline?
That's all for
now
John
John L. Carmichael
Sundial Sculptures
925 E.
Foothills Dr.
Tucson AZ 85718-4716
USA
Tel: 520-6961709
Email:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
My Websites:
Sundial Sculptures:
http://www.sundialsculptures.com
Stained Glass Sundials:
http://stainedglasssundials.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "carol arnold" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "John
Carmichael" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 22,
2004 4:45 AM
Subject: nailsea sundial
> John,
> Hello
again.
>
> I have been asked to quote for making a replica of
the
> nailsea court sundial - I know the people who live in
>
the house where the dial used to be.
>
> My main concern is the
gnomon, what to make if of and
> how to fix it - assuming they want it
to be similar to
> to how it would have been originally. I don't know
if
> you can advise me on this - I have looked at your
>
technical pages.
>
> Regards,
>
Carol
>
>
> =====
> Carol Arnold
> Stained
glass artist, commissions welcome,
> please take a look at my stained
glass website
>
http://www.carolarnold.co.uk
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
___________________________________________________________ALL-NEW
Yahoo!
Messenger - all new features - even more fun!
http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
>
Carol Arnold
Stained glass artist, commissions welcome,
ALL-NEW Yahoo!
Messenger - all new features - even more
fun!
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