The Short & Mason barograph mechanism overall of fine grained and lacquered brass construction. Conventional 8-day drum recorder, bearing “Pat. No. 3715.02” to top plate and serial no. “3488” to lower plate, with good quality platform escapement, captive winding key and top cover. The whole mounted on a conical base with sun gear, serial no. “3488.” The barometer set on separate chassis with fluted border and raised on four turned brass supporting pillars, eight capsule pressure sensing set with adjustment wheel over, having well-engineered connecting mechanism and arm and indicator to barometric scale. Base-mounted arrester bar with single stop pin. Silvered and engraved brass open-faced 4½” dial with conventional annotation calibrated from 28-31 inches of mercury, bearing Short & Mason registered design no. “428606” to bottom. Conventional corked ink bottle with dipper, inset to cabinet base. The whole contained within its original mahogany case with lift-off cover of heavy bevelled five-glass construction with architecturally themed columns.  Maker’s plate to front marked “Short & Mason, London.” Frieze drawer with lacquered brass handle to bottom for self-adhesive style charts.

The recording arm is a bespoke hand-made replacement in light polished alloy, and the ink bottle has a replacement cork.  Other than these, this Short & Mason barograph is presented in original condition, both case and movement retaining virtually all original lacquered finish. The instrument has been the subject of a near-complete re-build, the barometric section completely disassembled, all pivots polished and re-set, levers re-set to optimums. The case cover similarly disassembled facilitating proper cleaning of the glasses thus regaining the wonderful prismatic effect. Some very slight losses to lacquer to brass parts, the original silvered dial with some ageing and loss to silver. The mahogany case with minor marks, two minor indentations to rear upper, some fading and patination, the whole a wonderful warm colour with figure.

Test Trace Showing Storm Aileen, Sept 12th-13th, 2017

This was Short & Mason’s flagship model of the time, the refinements over standard models including the barometer dial, mahogany for the architecturally-themed case, the eight capsule mechanism, and additional finishing to the movement both in execution and set up. A very aesthetically pleasing, fine and rare instrument, absolutely a collector’s or connoisseur’s piece.

Dimensions: 15″ wide x 9″ high x 9″ deep

Stock No: BG0311

Price: SOLD