Category: History of Aneroid Barometers

Hysteresis and the Watkin Hicks Mountain Barometer
Aneroid, Barometers, Barometers in Action, History of Aneroid Barometers, How do I repair an aneroid barometer, Is my barometer working, Pressure, Surveying, Technology, Testing Barometers, Vavasseur Antiques - Antique & Vintage Aneroid Barometers, Barographs & Other Scientific Instruments, Weather | August 28, 2023
Hysteresis and the Watkin Hicks Mountain Barometer
This scarce development of the aneroid barometer or altimeter, patented by Colonel H.S.S. Watkin in 1898, was born of poorly performing pressure sensing capsules. It had been known for some time that a first reading before an ascent of some high place would not agree once the observer returned to the same elevation even if the barometric pressure had not...
August Work in Progress
Aneroid, Barographs, Barometers, Conservation, History of Aneroid Barometers, How do I repair an aneroid barometer, Pressure, Restoration, Vavasseur Antiques - Antique & Vintage Aneroid Barometers, Barographs & Other Scientific Instruments, Weather | August 8, 2023
August Work in Progress
Another fine instrument of particular interest, this large barograph is something quite special, and although unsigned, is undoubtedly the work of Negretti & Zambra. Let’s examine the evidence for this. First, the instrument is listed in the Negretti & Zambra catalogue of 1910 in the section Self-Recording Aneroid Barometers: item 82, a “Self-Recording Barometer, with a tall cylinder taking a...
The Quest for Greater Resolution in Aneroid Barometers II
Aneroid, Barometers, Barometers in Action, History of Aneroid Barometers, Pressure, Restoration, Testing Barometers, Vavasseur Antiques - Antique & Vintage Aneroid Barometers, Barographs & Other Scientific Instruments | August 6, 2023
The Quest for Greater Resolution in Aneroid Barometers II
As a follow up to Patent No. 2457 lodged by Daniels, this piece is certainly of significance. The Daniels instruments sought to display greater resolution with the introduction of a geared sub-assembly greatly magnifying the small rotational movement of the primary arbor, that connected by a fine chain to the secondary lever - the result being that the main dial...
The Quest for Greater Resolution in Aneroid Barometers I
Aneroid, Barometers, Barometers in Action, Conservation, History of Aneroid Barometers, Pressure, Restoration, Surveying, Technology, Vavasseur Antiques - Antique & Vintage Aneroid Barometers, Barographs & Other Scientific Instruments | May 11, 2023
The Quest for Greater Resolution in Aneroid Barometers I
As marvellous an invention as the aneroid barometer was, it had many shortcomings, most of which were approached by various instrument makers over the 100 years or so of production. Resolution, perhaps expressed as the reading to the highest number of decimal places, was an illusive goal. The problem relates to the expansion and contraction of the cell over a...
Antique Pocket Hypsometers II - Hicks Hypsometer
Aneroid, Barometers, Barometers in Action, Conservation, History of Aneroid Barometers, How do I repair an aneroid barometer, Is my barometer working, Pressure, Restoration, Testing Barometers, Vavasseur Antiques - Antique & Vintage Aneroid Barometers, Barographs & Other Scientific Instruments, Weather | April 22, 2023
Antique Pocket Hypsometers II – Hicks Hypsometer
A very  rare leather cased, lacquered and oxidised brass hypsometer No 590 by J. Hicks, London, c1900 Comprising four draw telescopic top section, the third draw marked "J. Hicks, Maker, 8, 9, & 10 Hatton Garden, London, No 590," first draw with heat shroud. Spirit burner with integral pushfit end cap, threaded wick cover, wind and flame shroud with lower...
Significant Shipwrecked Mariners Society Award
Aneroid, Barographs, Barometers, Conservation, Featured, History of Aneroid Barometers, Restoration, Vavasseur Antiques - Antique & Vintage Aneroid Barometers, Barographs & Other Scientific Instruments, Weather | April 16, 2023
Significant Shipwrecked Mariners Society Award
Generally when these instruments are given as presentations it’s to a retired partner from a law firm or the winner of some golfing extravaganza - these additions add nothing to the value or interest in the piece, indeed in most instances the plates are removed, the holes filled and a part of ignominious history gently forgotten. The Shipwrecked Fishermen and...
March Work in Progress
Aneroid, Barographs, Barometers, Bourdon, Conservation, History of Aneroid Barometers, Pressure, Restoration, Vavasseur Antiques - Antique & Vintage Aneroid Barometers, Barographs & Other Scientific Instruments, Weather | March 31, 2023
March Work in Progress
Another fascinating instrument from the storeroom, and at last I can give it the attention it needs. This Negretti & Zambra barothermograph was absolutely filthy, caked in dust and grime, and working to a point but not much more. Nonetheless, I could see that this would come good with careful conservation techniques. I always start a project like this by...
February Work in Progress
Aneroid, Barographs, Barometers, Barometers in Action, Compasses, Conservation, History of Aneroid Barometers, How do I repair an aneroid barometer, Is my barometer working, Pressure, Restoration, Testing Barometers, Vavasseur Antiques - Antique & Vintage Aneroid Barometers, Barographs & Other Scientific Instruments, Weather | February 16, 2023
February Work in Progress
Many might wonder what might be next on Vavasseur Antiques. “Work in progress” is a constant state, since almost all the items we offer are comprehensively re-built, serviced, and/or benefit from conservation. Consequently through-put is sometimes slow. This does mean though that the things we offer are ‘proper,’ as described, and as original as possible, not the product of the...
20th Century Technology - An Archive
Barometers in Action, History of Aneroid Barometers, Technology | October 3, 2019
20th Century Technology – An Archive

We often talk and think about the Victorian era, and for many it stands alone as a brief period in world history when so much of what we know, use and take for granted in the 21st Century was invented or was the seed from which a much bigger idea blossomed in later years. Much of the inventiveness of the…

Harrison's Chronometer and the Determination of Longitude
History of Aneroid Barometers | October 29, 2017
Harrison’s Chronometer and the Determination of Longitude

The Science Museum recently posted a very interesting blog about the story behind John Harrison and his portrait at the Royal Observatory. In its own way, the invention of the aneroid barometer by Lucien Vidi and its determination of altitude was as significant an invention in the 19th century as Harrison’s was in the 18th. https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/portrait-mr-harrison-timekeepers/