Hi all,
With regard to the sundial on the chimney I have some questions.
What is the size of the style (gnomon) is it a rod, or a bar and what is
it's thickness and length? Why can't the frame be mounted directly on
the wall? Also what is the longitude and latitude of Ghent (Belgium)?
Roderick Wall.
On Jan 10, 9:37am, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Subject: sundials on a chimney
> Dear Dialists,
>
> The city of Ghent (Belgium) plans to place 4 sundials on one
> of the chimneys of the town hall. The tabels of the dials
> will be squares, with sides 1.5m. They will be placed about 35m
> above the ground.
>
> For what I've seen on the current plans (which are 20 years old by the
> way), the dials will be open frames, constructed from gilded brass, to
> be bolted to the stone walls of the chimney. So the table of the dials
> will be the walls of the chimney, and the hour lines, etc... will be
> made from gilded brass rods.
Question: What is the size of the style (gnomon) is it a rod or a bar
and what is it's thickness and length?
> These rods will be 2 cm wide, and 1 cm
> thick. The square frame itself will have rods that are 3 cm wide (and
> of course also 1 cm thick)
>
> I am a little bit concerned about the thickness of the rods. Some of
> the hourlines get fairly close together, and if the sun is not too
> high above the table, these rods will cast shadows which may interfere
> with the proper reading of the dial. Also, it may be necessary to
> fix the frame at some distance from the wall, which would make the
>problem even worse.
>
Question: Why can't the frame be mounted directly on the wall?
> Of course, I understand why the architect designed these dials in this
> way: they must be absolutely whether-proof, because once installed
> (scaffolding necessary of course), there is no question to maintain
> them periodically, which is simply impossible. So you need something
> which is sturdy and whether-proof for tens of years, and gilded rods
> probably do qualify.
>
> Another disadvantage of the current design is that there is no colour
> used, which would be nice if one were to include lines referring to
> the seasons, analemmatic lines etc...
>
> Therefore, I am wondering whether there are no other solutions, using
> a full flat table, without rods which may cast shadows. Flat full
> tables also provide more possibilities for decoration, while the brass
> rods are presumably a bit `hefty'. The dials should be absolutely
> whether-proof, of course, and if possible based on a technique that
> may accomodate colours.
>
> The issue is, I feel, not completely unimportant, because, if the
> plans do really materialize (which remains to be seen), many tourists
> will see the dials, so one may want to do a good job at it.
>
> Thanks in advance for your reactions,
>
> Herwig Dejonghe
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>-- End of excerpt from [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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_______________________________
Roderick Wall
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Melbourne Australia.
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