Sundials: Their Theory and Construction

by Albert Waugh

Have you every wanted to build a sundial or to understand how one works? Then you have probably been frustrated as you search vainly for help. Most books on the subject are either rare out-of-print works published centuries ago and available only in highly specialized collections, or highly complicated treatises whose information is hidden behind frightening arrays of involved formulas. But now your search is over. This book is designed to meet sundialing needs at either the simple or the sophisticated level.
Albert E. Waugh, professor and administrator at the University of Connecticut for 40 years, and an expert on the subject of sundials and their curious history, presents, on the one hand, a rigorous appraisal of the science of sundials, including mathematical treatment and an explanation of the pertinent astronomical background; on the other hand, he presents simple and non-technical treatments such that several of the dials can be built by children!
The subject matter is arranged in 19 chapters, each covering a different aspect of dialing science. All the common types of dials are covered, but the reader can also learn about analemmatic dials, polar dials, equatorial dials, portable dials, memorial dials, armillary spheres, reflected ceiling dials, cross dials, and old-fashioned noon marks. There are also sections on dial furniture, mottoes, the actual layout out of a dial, the equation of time, finding time in other cities, how to find the meridian, how to find time by moonlight — even how to estimate time from the length of one's own shadow! Directions are given for designing dials for any part of the country, or any place in the world. The author has designed many dials, and his text is filled with helpful hints based on his own personal experience. There are over 100 illustrations, charts, and tables, followed by an appendix which is filled with material which reduces or eliminates the need for calculation on the part of the reader.

Genres: Science, Astronomy, Reference, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1973

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book, which does in fact provide detailed instructions on building several types of sundials. (I didn't know there were so many.) The geometry of solar motion, the distinctions between apparent and mean time and between local and standard time, the analemma the sun traces on the sky over the course of a year are all given detailed treatment. There's a little bit of historical background as well. I particularly enjoyed the three passages from Canterbury Tales that concerned solar timekeeping.

It is pretty dated, which only adds to its charm as far as I'm concerned. This is a book that, with its tables of numbers, belongs to the days before digital calculators were in common use, and before GPS made determination of your precise latitude and longitude easy. I was only disappointed he didn't teach me how to determine my own latitude beyond using detailed maps and searching out a surveyor or a math teacher for help.

[Eric Xia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thirty pages of this is a fascinating look at sundials and how the concept of place is tied to time. The first three sundials presented are also really interesting. When they start building weird obscure sundials is when the author gets a little off track.

[Bradley W Gann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book to really understand sundials. I didn't really know what I didn't know! There are so many ways to harness the suns light to figure out things about the world. This book gives several different types of sundials and how to actually calculate making one for wherever you are in the world. If you need to know the angles to get accurate time readings, this is your book. If you need a way to build a sundial on your house that will also tell you the month of the year, you can do it with this book. It has down to earth practical reading that simplifies everything but gives enough detail to know what you are really trying to accomplish. Great resource for build a sundial.

[Brad Needham · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my two favorite sources for sundial design (the other being the Mayall book). A touch dated because, published in 1973, it predated sundial layout programs. That said, it's still a practical book on how to construct a sundial on any flat surface.

Sundials don't have to be just horizontal or on a vertical South-facing wall. This book teaches you how to make a sundial for North, East, West, and of course South walls, as well as tilted surfaces. It contains a concise explanation of the differences between sun time and clock time, and how to compensate for that difference.

If you're interested in building sundials, you must have this book in your library.

[Two Readers in Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best practical books on actually constructing noon marks, horizontal and vertical sundials, and armillarys that I have come across. Provides multiple ways of measuring or calculating true south, local noon, and more. In addition to the practical knowledge there are some nice side trips into the history of the technology.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent book for anyone who wants the details of making sundials. I originally picked it up because I thought it would be fun to make a sundial for my garden. I hope to come back to it when I have more time.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on sun dials, a lot of info for history and construction.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice explanations, mathematics and practical construction advice.

[Katy German · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terse, dense and precise.