Hello all: The problem with inward and outward numeral orientation is that both are oriented about the dial center which does not take into account the place where the viewer usually stands for viewing. Optimal viewing of these orientations require the viewer to walk around the dial or perform mental acrobatics so that you are not reading the numerals from a skewed angle.
My favorite numeral orientation for most horizontal and vertical dials is neither inward nor outward, but perpendicular to the east/west line (horizontals), and perpendicular to the horizon (verticals). If you are standing south or north of a horizontal dial, all the numerals and other lettering are most easily read if they face towards you (like the print on a newspaper on a table). If you're standing on the ground, reading a vertical is easiest if the numerals are all perpendicular to the ground (like the print on a billboard). John John L. Carmichael Jr. Sundial Sculptures 925 E. Foothills Dr. Tucson Arizona 85718 USA Tel: 520-696-1709 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: <http://www.sundialsculptures.com> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patrick Powers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "sundial" <sundial@rrz.uni-koeln.de> Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2001 2:42 AM Subject: Numerals on dials > Message text written by Tony Moss > > >The orientation of Roman numerals on vertical dials is generally decided > by the fact that the dial is read from below. For horizontal dials > however it seemed natural to me that Roman numerals *looked* best when > read from the inside outwards i.e. when looking at the dial from its > southern side (northern hemisphere). XII, XI, X, IX and I, II. III, > and IIII read locate satifactorily in either direction but V, VI and VII > have 'V' elements which radiate outwards and benefit from the extra space > at the outer serif circle. Placed the other way with tops towards the > centre of the dial makes for a visually 'tight' situation - especially in > smaller dials with less space to spare. > > I just wondered if anyone else would wish to share their thoughts on the > subject as it seems that the 'traditional' orientation is the reverse of > my personal preference.< > > > This is an interesting topic for me because as Registrar of BSS I have to > enter the various distinguishing features of dials that have been found by > our Members. I have recently taken to remarking on the arrangements of the > numerals where the appearance looks different from the norm. Sadly with > over 4000 dials of all types I cannot easily put in comments for all dials! > > Internally viewable numerals (and other 'different' arrangements!) are a > feature that is more commonly found with vertical dials where I would guess > the different arrangements occur more or less with equal regularity. > However I haven't done a check. > > In horizontal dials though there is most definitely a bias to arranging > Roman numerals to be read from the outside - a rather quick statistical > estimate made by me just now by looking through 174 horizontal dial photos > in the BSS Register (an estimate which is however flawed by the fact that > some photos did not permit an observation of the numeral arrangement!) > indicates that as few as 11% of dials have internally viewed numerals. Even > allowing (say) a factor two - a likely overestimate in my view - for those > dials whose photos do not permit an observation we can, I think, say that > only about a quarter of horizontal dials are engraved with internally > viewed numerals. > > It is a topic that might bear further analysis since you see several old > dials and dials by famous makers (like Melvin) with internally viewed > numerals as well as new ones. > > I agree with you that the internal arrangement generally looks better - if > for no other reason than that it facilitiates reading the dial from the > South looking North which, for me, is the way I often find myself looking > first at a dial. However, maybe I am just wierd! > > Regards Patrick > >
