Height recorder having finely engineered movement constructed in lacquered brass, aluminium and steel driven from a short Bourdon type tube through two amplification  mounted on transverse finely pivoted cross shafts, large concentric bronze backlash reducing spring, blued leaf spring tensioner, counterbalanced recording arm with pressure adjustment setting screw all raised on four turned and detailed pillars over a three-quarter length chassis struck “Richard Frères Constructeurs, Brevetes SGDG, Paris,” Richard Frères “RF” logo, serial no. “149865.”

68mm diameter recording drum, the base plate struck “8 Heures Equilibre, Richard Frères” surmounted by “S.F.A.,” the top plate with key winding port with direction of wind arrow, sliding dust cover, regulation port marked “R & A.” Paper clip. Supported on a vertical steel spindle with turned bearing surfaces, sun wheel.

All contained within a well-executed single glass mahogany case with plated furniture, comprising spring locking hook pattern catches, long hinge, eight spring suspension points mounted to top and bottom. The ID plate to top struck “Barographe 0 A 5000 Mètres, Ste ANme Des ETABts Jules Richard, Numero 149865, Date De Fabrication 10 – 1935.”

Instruments of this type and from the manufacturer are seldom seen. This one is in very good working order, pictured here with a meteorological recording paper for the purposes of testing. Under pressure chamber testing, the instrument was progressively taken to the equivalent of an altitude of 5,000 metres and then brought back to sea level. The trace shows a good even response across the pressure range.

The subject of a complete re-build and remaining in almost entirely original condition, the mahogany case re-lacquered. All metal components are original and maintain much of their original finish. The clockwork properly serviced and re-timed.

A fine instrument from the pre-eminent maker of recording devices of the time. Very much a collector’s piece.