A very good scarce lacquered and gilt brass “Hurricane” aneroid pocket barometer altimeter by Short & Mason for Lennie, Edinburgh c1900

Pocket barometer having 1¾” silvered and die struck dial, outer bezel operated altimetric ring calibrated in feet with a range from 0 – 3,000ft divided down to 10ft, inner barometric scale in inches of mercury with a range from 28” – 31” divided to 1/50th. The inner part with a series of prognostications with “Hurricane“ at 28.5”, together with “Compensated for Temperature,” and signed by the retailer “Lennie, Edinburgh.” Fine blued steel pointer, bevelled glass.

Standard Vidie pattern movement driven from a single nickel alloy capsule tensioned on a C spring. All contained within a lacquered and gilt brass semi barrel form case, engine turned finisher, pendant and bow.

Presented in its correct oxblood leather over timber, dark blue silk and velvet lined clamshell case, snap closure on a button release.

Condition: The subject of a full service, conservation, and calibration under laboratory conditions. The movement working exceptionally well, see performance chart from dynamic test.

The dial about very good, minor marks and some slight ageing. The brass case with small dent on edge of verso. The leather case exceptional, structurally sound, with only slight external wear, good colour, the fabric interior clean and vibrant.

Comments: A rare piece and certainly highly desirable, barometers associated with hurricanes and typhoons are particularly sought after. This is the second only of such a pocket barometer recorded by us. The wide open scale and good resolution particularly useful for height measurement and meteorological observation.

Very much a collector’s piece.