SUNCLOCKS is now out of print, but you can now download the entire book! 
All 56 pages on a .pdf format is now available here. 
 
A unique and intriguing gift idea.  Sundials that really work!  14 pages of text followed by pages of sundial parts to cut out and construct. Clear and easy to understand instructions and illustrations.  Perfect for ages 10 to 14.   See contents and review below.
 
A fun activity book that can be used on several different levels.  You can study the brief history of sundials, the relationship of  sun-time and clock-time, why there are time zones, or just go right to the instruction pages and start making the sundials.  Three different types of common sundials covering nine latitudes in the contiguous United States. That's 27 sundials in all!  
 
Written by Jeffrey V. Trionfante,  geographer and cartographer (among other things.)
Click here to download - NOTE: Because of the large size of the file (11.5 MB), we recommend that you download using DSL or other high speed internet access.
 
 
 
 
A suggested contribution of $5 (or any amount) would be greatly appreciated - send to:
Jeff Trionfante
885 Southwest Blvd
Coos Bay, OR 97420
 
You will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader (also free) before you can read or print the Keepsake Handbook.
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Get Adobe Acrobat  
Downloading this free software could take some time (5.5MB) depending on your modem speed, but you will only have to download it once. You can use it to view or print any Portable Document Format (.pdf) files.
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contents include:
bulletGlossary
bulletSun-time versus clock-time
bulletHow to correct for latitude
bulletTime zones
bulletPlacing the sundial correctly
bulletFinding true north
bulletLatitude locator map of U.S.
bulletHorizontal sundials
bulletVertical sundials
bulletEquatorial sundials

 
REVIEW
From Planaterian, December, 1999.
by April Whitt, Fernbank Science Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
 
A paper-bound book of sundials to cut out and assemble - what could be a better offering in your planetarium or museum shop?  This book provides three types of dials: horizontal, vertical, and equatorial, across nine different latitudes from 26 to 48 degrees north. And that’s the only short-coming I can see - these aren’t printed for southern hemisphere users. 
 
The volume begins with a bit of the history of time-keeping, describes sun-time vs. clock-time, provides a glossary of terms and a list of items needed to complete your paper sundial, and gives directions for longitude correction and orienting each of the types of dials. The cut-and-paste sundials are printed on heavy stock, labeled with their latitudes. The directions are easy to follow and the explanations are clear. 
 
I am recommending Sunclocks as an excellent resource for teachers, summer camp leaders, science clubs and the occasional Y2K worrier. 

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