Mark and Vavasseur Antiques Featured in Country Life!
Credit: Country Life, 27 September 2023 Issue www.countrylife.co.uk
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
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
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
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...
Conservation & Restoration Services
Barometer repairs or restoration services? We undertake barometer and barograph repairs, restoration and servicing at reasonable rates. We handle aneroid and mercury barometers, barographs, and other scientific instruments. “I had two early instruments which were ‘showing their age’ and needed rejuvenating without losing any of their original looks. The team at Vavasseur would appear to live and breathe pocket instruments and I would recommend...
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...
New Test Control Unit in Laboratory
An addition and a development of the Calibration & Flow Control Unit Mk1 The lack of availability of this equipment commercially left me with no alternative other than to design and build in-house. In any event I had my own ideas and requirements. This control unit manages a number of parameters in a readily visual way leaving aside the need...
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...
Antique Pocket Hypsometers I – French Hypsometer
The term 'Hypsometer' is essentially applied to a device or system, perhaps mathematically based, that enables the determination of heights or elevations. It has been applied to aneroids and various trigonometrically based instruments. In this instance we are dealing with the instrument more generally recognised as a hypsometer, in essence a device not unlike a telescope however lacking lenses, the...
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
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...
Vavasseur Antiques’ New Laboratory In Action
I remember a client came to me, a number of years ago, and with great excitement explained that he had bought a barometer and that "it works!" His great surprise and feelings of good fortune were very evident. Quite apart from being very happy for him, it was clear to me in that moment just how low the expectations of...
Selling Your Barometer, Barograph or Other Scientific Instrument
Thinking of selling a barometer or barograph? • We are the strongest and most active buyers of good quality antique and vintage aneroid barometers, barographs and related scientific instruments worldwide. We would be very pleased to talk to you if you are considering selling such items. • It is important that you achieve a fair price for the items you...
The Wonderful Conclusion to the Story of John Campbell’s Exceptional Model Steam Engine
We’re delighted that the amazing Campbell model steam engine has been featured in the Antiques Trade Gazette special publication “Sixty Objects, Sixty Stories”, a review of 2019 highlights from the magazine.
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…
Compasses at Greenwich to Point to True North for the First Time in 360 Years
The Royal Observatory has announced that, at some point over the next two weeks, compasses at Greenwich will point true north for the first time in about 360 years. And for some parts of the UK, this may not happen for another 20 years. Either way, it is a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Testing Aneroid Barometers for Accuracy & Function
Aneroid barometers that have not been properly serviced and calibrated may be prone to one or more of the many common faults that are found and the oft-cited Plastic Bag Text is fallible. Buying an instrument that has not been properly checked is therefore a lottery.
Vavasseur Scientific Instruments Featured in “Homes & Antiques” Magazine
We’re thrilled that several of our antique scientific instruments have been showcased in the February 2019 edition of “Homes & Antiques” magazine as part of its “Look to the Stars” feature. Barothermograph c1925 Spencer Browning Sextant c1870 Negretti & Zambra Gyroscope c1865
Negretti & Zambra Barograph & Thermograph Instructions
An original Negretti & Zambra leaflet c1910 with directions for setting up self-recording barometers (barographs), thermometers (thermographs), etc
Collecting in the 21st Century
The decline in the antiques trade might be a wholly unnatural phenomenon. Is it about to rebound with a rise in the collection of technology?
Antique Pocket Barometers on Screen
It’s been an interesting September for Vavasseur Antiques with two unusual enquiries for antique pocket barometers. The first was from a UK production company seeking an antique pocket barometer as a prop for the lead character in a forthcoming TV series. Unfortunately, as the programme was set in 1830s, as pocket barometers weren’t invented until Negretti & Zambra rose to…
A Moment of Calm in This Hectic World…
Mark has recently enhanced his test equipment and is now able to film barometers under pressurised conditions. This short clip shows the unusual Casella pocket barometer, made for the Royal Geographical Society c1930, replicating the effect of descending from 25,000ft to 12,000ft – and it only takes 27 seconds! For more information about the RGS pocket barometer, click…
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/
Apprehensive about Buying an Antique Barometer Online?
This glorious Jules Richard Bourdon Barometer c1890 was the inspiration for our original logo! Buying an antique barometer or barograph online from an unknown company is understandably daunting, and can be a cause for concern. Set up in 2016, Vavasseur Antiques has become the preeminent specialist in the very finest antique aneroid barometers, barographs and other Victorian scientific instruments in...
Vavasseur Antiques is now on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook!
Find Vavasseur Antiques on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook… We now have an official Vavasseur Antiques Twitter feed – @VavasseurAnt, an Instagram page – vavasseur_antiques, and a Facebook page – @vavasseurantiques, where we post up images and details of new and/or interesting objects from our portfolio. If you have a moment, please do follow us!
Weather Forecasting, the Negretti & Zambra Way!
A number of years before the BBC started to broadcast shipping forecasts and weather reports in November 1922, Negretti & Zambra patented the ‘weather forecaster’ to allow both professionals and the man in the street to forecast the weather with more than 80% accuracy (the result of 10 years’ research). Negretti & Zambra’s patent – No. 6276/15 – was applied…
Storm Aileen, 12-13 September 2017
After a period of very settled weather, Storm Aileen heralded the start of Autumn as she passed over last night, peaking at 2.41am, if the extremely strong gust that blew open one of the closed bedroom windows was anything to go by! Luckily window and glass survived the storm, as did the peacock whose usual roost is a tree at…
Operation Weather Rescue: Ben Nevis
The BBC recently highlighted the project to digitise the metrological measurements taken at an observatory atop Ben Nevis between 1883 and 1904 so that the readings can be used by modern researchers. The article can be read here. Perfect for darker Autumn evenings, I’ve signed up to take part!
Storm Doris, 23 February 2017
One of the benefits of sharing the Vavasseur Antiques office with several beautiful barographs is being able to watch weather patterns being recorded in real-time. The downward trend in pressure followed by the sharp upturn as Storm Doris passed over was particularly well demonstrated on the Short & Mason microbarograph…
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