Sundial by Sir Christopher Wren
Hello Sundial List, I've been trying to locate detailed information on the design and construction of Sir Christopher Wren's large vertical sundial installed at All Souls College at Oxford in 1658. I'm familiar with Margaret Stanier's booklet, and I have a copy of a pamphlet published very recently by Dr John Simmons (of All Souls), but neither comes even close to providing the details I seek. My efforts to find information on any subject using the internet have generally been exercises in frustration. I am constantly amazed by what some of you are able to find and would greatly appreciate any hints about how to conduct a successful search. It doesn't seem possible that in the more than 3 centuries since the sundial was first installed no one has written extensively on its design and construction. But how to find those papers? Thanks for any help. Mac Oglesby Putney, Vermont USA
RE: Sundial by Sir Christopher Wren
On Wed, 3 May 2000, Mac Oglesby wrote: > Philip Pattenden, Sundials at an Oxford > College. Oxford: Roman Books, 1979. ISBN 0950664405. 100 pages. Hi Mac, can you tell me how to get this book? Thank you. - Daniel
Re: Sundial by Sir Christopher Wren
Hello Mac, together with Charles K Aked and Nicola Severino and my 2000 articles we created in 1997 the International Bibliography of Gnomonica with 12000 titles concerning books printed from 1500 to 1997 and articles from international magazines. So, if you have a question to authors, years, titles etc. you can get an answer. With sunny greetings The German Sundial Society Klaus Eichholz Zum Ruhrblick 5 D-44797 Bochum [EMAIL PROTECTED] Von: "Mac Oglesby" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> An: "Sundial mailing list" Gesendet: Samstag, 29. April 2000 17:09 Betreff: Sundial by Sir Christopher Wren > > Hello Sundial List, > > I've been trying to locate detailed information on the design and > construction of Sir Christopher Wren's large vertical sundial > installed at All Souls College at Oxford in 1658. I'm familiar with > Margaret Stanier's booklet, and I have a copy of a pamphlet published > very recently by Dr John Simmons (of All Souls), but neither comes > even close to providing the details I seek. > > My efforts to find information on any subject using the internet have > generally been exercises in frustration. I am constantly amazed by > what some of you are able to find and would greatly appreciate any > hints about how to conduct a successful search. > > It doesn't seem possible that in the more than 3 centuries since the > sundial was first installed no one has written extensively on its > design and construction. But how to find those papers? > > Thanks for any help. > > Mac Oglesby > Putney, Vermont USA
Re: Sundial by Sir Christopher Wren
Hi Mac et al, If you're looking for photos of the Wren dial, I have some that I took last summer. I can scan them for anyone that wishes, but the files would need to be quite large to convey all the detail. Regards, John - Dr J R Davis Flowton, UK 52.08N, 1.043E email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] . > If any on the Sundial List are interested in Wren's magnificent > sundial at All Souls College but haven't seen it, I have a small jpg > (about 45k) available. There must be better images available > somewhere on the internet, but I don't know where at the moment. > > Best wishes, > > Mac Oglesby > >
Re: Sundial by Sir Christopher Wren
Hi Klaus, Thank you for your reply. The International Bibliography of Gnomonica sounds like a wonderful resource, especially if there are brief descriptions of the contents of each entry. Is there any way for some one who doesn't own a copy of the Bibliography to check or search its contents--perhaps in a library or on the Internet? If not, and if the Bibliography is searchable by subject, are you able to supply any references (alas, I only read English) to the sundial by Sir Christopher Wren installed at All Souls College in Oxford, England? Since I'm seeking detailed information concerning the design and construction (or reconstruction, since the dial was relocated from its original site) of the dial, articles or books which contain only a brief mention are not of interest to me at this time. Many thanks for any help. Best wishes, Mac Oglesby Hello Mac, together with Charles K Aked and Nicola Severino and my 2000 articles we created in 1997 the International Bibliography of Gnomonica with 12000 titles concerning books printed from 1500 to 1997 and articles from international magazines. So, if you have a question to authors, years, titles etc. you can get an answer. With sunny greetings The German Sundial Society Klaus Eichholz Zum Ruhrblick 5 D-44797 Bochum [EMAIL PROTECTED] Von: "Mac Oglesby" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> An: "Sundial mailing list" Gesendet: Samstag, 29. April 2000 17:09 Betreff: Sundial by Sir Christopher Wren > > Hello Sundial List, > > I've been trying to locate detailed information on the design and > construction of Sir Christopher Wren's large vertical sundial > installed at All Souls College at Oxford in 1658. I'm familiar with > Margaret Stanier's booklet, and I have a copy of a pamphlet published > very recently by Dr John Simmons (of All Souls), but neither comes > even close to providing the details I seek. > > My efforts to find information on any subject using the internet have > generally been exercises in frustration. I am constantly amazed by > what some of you are able to find and would greatly appreciate any > hints about how to conduct a successful search. > > It doesn't seem possible that in the more than 3 centuries since the > sundial was first installed no one has written extensively on its > design and construction. But how to find those papers? > > Thanks for any help. > > Mac Oglesby > Putney, Vermont USA
RE: Sundial by Sir Christopher Wren
Hi Andrew, Thank you for your message. You wrote: (snip) > > It doesn't seem possible that in the more than 3 centuries since the > > sundial was first installed no one has written extensively on its > > design and construction. I should think that IS actually quite possible! I suspect that in the C18 the knowledge would have been commonplace and probably not considered worthy of writing down. I would be quite surprised if in the C19 and earlier C20 it had been written up. If a recent paper by a Fellow of All Souls gives no help then I fear you may be on a quest for something which does not exist - but I'd be delighted to be proved wrong and to learn of what you find! Have you tried writing to him directly? Best wishes, Andrew James Dr John Simmons, the author of "Wren's Dial Remov'd, or High-Victorian Hubris at All Souls," is elderly, busy, and doesn't use email. I've exchanged several messages with Norma Aubertin-Potter, Librarian in Charge, Codrington Library, who forwarded my questions to Dr Simmons and returned his answers. (Patrick Powers supplied an email address for the Library.) She has been very gracious and prompt in responding, but doesn't know where to find the material I'm seeking. I secured a copy of J. A. Bennett's "The Mathematical Science of Christopher Wren" through inter-library loan, but was disappointed to find only a brief mention of Wren's interest in sundials. Simmons also lists a monograph by Pattenden, "Sundials at an Oxford College," and I'm looking for a copy. Norma Aubertin-Potter gave me a more complete reference as: Philip Pattenden, Sundials at an Oxford College. Oxford: Roman Books, 1979. ISBN 0950664405. 100 pages. If any on the Sundial List are interested in Wren's magnificent sundial at All Souls College but haven't seen it, I have a small jpg (about 45k) available. There must be better images available somewhere on the internet, but I don't know where at the moment. Best wishes, Mac Oglesby
