Waring  

 Sundial: 870
State/Province:  Texas Country:  USA
Dial Type:  Vertical Dial Condition:  Excellent
  Latitude and Longitude: 29° 57.493' N  98° 49.078' W
Location: Access: This is a private dial. See below for access details.
  • Camp Capers at 418 FM 1621, Waring TX 78013 (About 50 miles Northwest of San Antonio Texas)
    Dial is high up in stained glass cross window on the southwestern wall of the dining hall.

    To visit, please contact (830) 995-3966 or email camp.capers@dwtx.org
 
Description:
  • This is a rare American stained glass sundial, accurately telling time and season. It occupies the center panel of a five panel window that forms a cross. The vertical sundial panel measures 28x28 inches and declines 48° west of south, so it only functions in the afternoons. The dial is longitude corrected and indicates Daylight Saving Time when readings are adjusted using the Equation of Time. The gnomon is a 3/4 inch brass ball nodus attached by a non-polar axis rod to the aluminum Sussman window frame. It is the only stained glass sundial in the world that uses frosted colored stained glass to enhance the view of the nodus shadow. It has three seasonal date lines, a solar noon mark, and other marks showing special anniversary dates. It contains the traditional fly, seen on the the lower yellow panel between 1pm and 1:30pm.

    It took exactly one year to design and build all five window panels. Shadow tests showed that frosted (sandblasted) stained glass produces shadows that are sharper and crisper than opalescent glass. It is the first stained glass window that uses frosted colored glass for the shadow. John Carmichael worked closely with Ron Wood who lead the effort to get the window built. Carmichael states."I consider this to be one of my best sundials. It certainly was a great fun challenge to design, build and install. Its photo appears on the cover of the new Camp Song book."
 
General Information:Inscription:
  • Owner: Episcopal Diocese of West Texas
  • JC 2017
  • Designer: John L. Carmichael Jr. and Ron Wood
  • Builder: John L. Carmichael Jr.
  • Construction Date: 2017
 
References: Web Links:
  • Video of sundial construction:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imbLE4Xbgx4

    Video of sundial hours near winter solstice
    https://youtu.be/StFHa_c26Ew

    Carmichael photo album of stained glass sundial:
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/jlcarmichael/albums/72157681744505774

    Camp Capers website:
    http://www.dwtx.org/departments/camps/capers/


Last Revised: 2017-06-13 23:36