Drum 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. “3205″ 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. “3205.” 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 twin 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 and with the retailer’s details: “M.W. Dunscombe, Bristol.” 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.  Frieze drawer with lacquered brass handle to bottom for self-adhesive style charts.

The subject of extensive restoration and conservation, the recording arm a bespoke hand-made replacement in light polished alloy, the ink bottle with replacement cork. The instrument has been the subject of a near-complete rebuild, the barometric section completely disassembled, all pivots polished and reset, levers reset to optimums. The instrument fully tested and recalibrated under laboratory conditions, see performance chart below. The case cover similarly disassembled, facilitating proper cleaning of the glasses, thus regaining the wonderful prismatic effect. The mahogany case with minor marks, some fading and patination, the whole with good colour with figure. Overall very crisp and in good working order.

Close up of trace showing Storm Evert, 29 July 2021

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 scarce instrument, absolutely a piece to take pride of place.

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

Stock No: BG1547

Price: SOLD