He is best known for his work on the magnetism, particularly of adjustment needed for compasses on iron ships.
Concurrently he was the Secretary of underwriters Registry for Iron vessels, Liverpool.
[4] He conducted experiments on the SS Great Eastern with Frederick J Evans RN.
[5] The work with Evans related to dealing with the disturbing elements arising from the iron and the magnetisation of the ships.
In 1889, Rundell created charts showing the horizontal variation in the magnetic force acting on a ship's compass needle by the iron within the ship (Dygograms) for HMS Polyphemus, HMS Curlew and HMS Dreadnought are held at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.