The Sunfair - the best of sundial designers
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Brad Dillon Sundials make all types of dials in the best quality materials using traditional methods as much as possible, preferring to fix and join components together using rivets which are sanded and polished to blend in rather than welding or brazing.
In our workshop in Cornwall we buy the raw materials and process them by sanding, rolling, polishing and patinating. We also use experienced, skilled companies to outsource some of our processes such as water jet cutting, precision milling, engraving and acid etching. We have established a good working relationship over the years with these companies who understand the complex requirements of making a working sundial, (not an easy task.)
Brad Dillon was a blacksmith in London for twenty years but gave it up to concentrate solely on Sundial making, which, remarkably was a success from the start - the launch coming after three years of research and development.
During this three year period, Brad Dillon joined the British Sundial society, the Royal astronomical society and embarked on a tour of horological museums throughout Europe to study the designs and workings of sundials and how they have changed over the years.
Border Sundials, UK At Border Sundials every sundial is handmade to order; engraved with your choice of words and engineered to tell the time accurately wherever you are in the world. We create eye catching armillary spheres in brass, verdigris and stainless steel, as well as brass and bronze horizontal dials of all sizes to mark your special occasions and for gifts that last a lifetime. We also create vertical sundials from enamel, brass, slate and almost any other material. If you want something extra large, or even completely different, we will also work to commission to realise your sundial vision.
On our website you can see our complete range of horizontal sundials, vertical sundials, armillary spheres, and plinths. As well as a gallery of past commissions.
David Harber Sundials, UK David Harber’s sundials are dazzling, unique contemporary interpretations of classical designs constructed from the best materials. The range includes: armillary spheres in bronze, brass and marine grade stainless steel; vertical sundials in slate, stone, lead, copper and more; striking obelisks; and horizontal and other sundials.
Sundials are constructed using both time-honoured methods involving hand tools and artists’ materials, and, where appropriate, modern machinery and technologies. All sundials can be personalised with engraving or etching of words and phrases of personal resonance, such as mottoes and quotations; family names and dates of birth; commissioning statements; house names with latitude and longitude; or distances and direction to significant locations.
Merlin Designs, UK Traditional or contemporary horizontal brass sundials. A sundial is a device that tells the time of day when there is sunlight by the apparent position of the Sun in the sky. A sundial consists of a flat plate (the dial) and a gnomon, which casts a shadow onto the dial. As the Sun appears to move across the sky, the shadow aligns with different hour-lines, which are marked on the dial to indicate the time of day. The style is the time-telling edge of the gnomon, though a single point or nodus may be used. The gnomon casts a broad shadow; the shadow of the style shows the time. The gnomon may be a rod, wire, or elaborately decorated metal casting. The style must be parallel to the axis of the Earth's rotation for the sundial to be accurate throughout the year. The style's angle from horizontal is equal to the sundial's geographical latitude.
Piers Nicholson Sundials, UK My sundials commemorate important events for people, businesses and communities all over the world. They combine modern design, superb engineering, rugged construction, excellent accuracy, and a great "wow factor". Just look at the refectionof the clouds and of the flower in the picture. They are very easy to set up. There is plenty of space for engraving your personal message, and all engraving is included in the price. Our sundials are made in 3 sizes, 24, 30 and 42 cm. square. Each one is specially made for the latitude where it will be placed, and there is ample space for personalised engraving which we will discuss and agree with you. And each one incoprporates our innovative "split gnomon" which gives you a line of light at noontime, and more importantly enables you to set up your sundial so that it will tell accurate solar time for ever.
Spot-On Sundials in Brass, UK Contemporary horizontal and polar sundials, easy to set up. The original brass Spot-On Sundial was introduced to the market in 2001. Since then, more than 10900 customers all over the world have bought them as presents for big occasions or simply for their own pleasure.
The brass horizontal Spot-On Sundials are made in 3 different sizes, either on square baseplates measuring 17, 27 or 34 cms., or on round baseplates measuring 15, 25 or 32 cm. diameter. And you can make your sundial completely personal by having your own message engraved on the side of the gnomon as shown here
*The Spot-on sundial can be read to within a minute or two (it is marked in 5 minute intervals). Unlike many sundials, the Spot-on sundial is scientifically accurate and, if set up accurately, will display True Time with complete accuracy