SUNCLOCKS - Paper Sundials to Make and Use.JVT Publications, 5549 Camus Rd, Carson City, NV 89701, USA, ISBN 1-893812-51-0, 56 pages, $12.95
This book is a very useful introduction to sundials. It explains the basics of dialling, and gives a glossary of terms. It has a full explanation of the differences between sun time and clock time, with illustrations from the USA. There are instructions for how to find true north, and thus set up a sundial. The main part of the book consists of paper models of horizontal, vertical, and equatorial sundials to cut out and make. For horizontal and vertical dials, there are 8 different models, calculated for latitudes from 26 deg. To 48 deg. which covers the whole of the contiguous United States. The models are printed on thick paper, with clear instructions for how to cut and assemble them. The design for each latitude is slightly different, and there are some ornamental features, so that they are suitable for colouring in. The equatorial dial models have 8 different bases using the same dial plate. This approach means that there is no need for any calculation; the user just selects the sheet for the nearest latitude, cuts it out and assembles it. As a quick, uncomplicated way of getting acquainted with the basics of dialling, this book would be hard to beat. While aimed specially at 10 to 14-year olds, the book would be equally useful to adults newly interested in sundials. It is to be hoped that this book will be so successful that it will be possible in the next edition to introduce sheets for say 51 and 54 degrees, so that it would be suitable for users in Northern Europe as well as those south of the latitude of Paris. It would be helpful to users to have a list of further sources so that their interest, once kindled, could be developed further. .
