- ANALEMMIC-EQUATORIAL SUNDIALS -

"For in and out, above, about, below,
'Tis nothing but a Magic Shadow-show,
Play'd in a Box whose Candle is the Sun,
Round which we Phantom Figures come and go."
... Fitzgerald: Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

First Brass Sundial       Brass 26"w x 14"h x 14"d Prototype Sundial (127k.jpg). My first sundial, which I hand-cut, filed, sanded and shaped from 1/4" brass plate. I hand-struck all of the scales, and had the text and numbering machine engraved. I then rolled the equatorial scale to the proper curvature, and brazed, polished and assembled the final pieces. I remember being incredibly amazed when I set this finished sundial outside for the very first time, aligned it roughly on the ground with our E-W fence line, and discovered that it actually worked!

Ann Morrison Park Sundial       I placed this Stainless Steel 6'w x 4'h x 4'd Sundial Sculpture (110k.jpg) in Boise's Ann Morrison Park in 1998. Materials and labor for this sundial were donated by JST Manufacturing Inc. I really like this design for its simplicity, and because it visually demonstrates very clearly the apparent motion of the sun "about" the earth throughout the day and the year. It indicates the time to within less than a minute, the date to within the day and it also adjusts for Daylight Saving Time!

      A newer version of this sundial was recently installed at the Herrett Center for Arts and Science, located on campus at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.

New Millennium Sundial       The New Millennium Sundial!   The image at left is the original artwork model I completed for a 34"w x 26"h x 24"d Bronze Garden Sundial, similar in design to my park sundial sculpture above. I made it out of a combination of materials, primarily wood for rigidity, but also clay, and laser-engraved plastic for all detailed markings. I call this sundial the New Millennium sundial because its analemmic gnomon has been optimized to achieve maximum date and time accuracy later this century. It too will indicate the time to within less than a minute, the date to within the day, and adjusts for Daylight Saving Time!

      I worked for a year with Valley Bronze in Joseph Oregon to cast this sundial in bronze for commercial sale, but they just had too many problems trying to achieve the required accuracy. It will be a few more years before I resume this project, but I promise that I will eventually find a way to produce these!

      If you would be interested in having any of the above or similar custom dials for your area, please e-mail me at the address below. I will be happy to discuss this further with you!

      Further information about the design and construction of these sundials.

      Link to the U.S. Naval Observatory Master Clock Time.

Tempus captum!

Pete Swanstrom
2251 E Skipperling Ln.
Boise, ID. 83706

Phone (208) 345-3086

Last Updated: July 30, 2007
Send Mail to: pete@swanstrom.net
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