Rare Presentation Shipwrecked Mariners Society Marine Barometer by Dollond No 815 c1905
A rare oak cased Shipwrecked Fishermen & Mariners Society Marine Aneroid Barometer by Dollond No 815, presented to Henry Saffrey for the rescue of the crew of the Norwegian Barque St. Joseph, Oct 9th 1905.
Marine barometer having 4¾” illuminated and transfer printed ceramic dial, the upper portion having barometric scale from 28-31 inches of mercury, annotated “Falls for Warm, Wet or More Wind,” “Changeable,” “Rises for Cold, Dry or Less Wind,” “Marine Aneroid Barometer Made by Dollond, London,” the centre with serial “No. 815,” the lower portion marked “The Shipwrecked Fishermen & Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society” and the Society’s address “26 Suffolk Street, Pall Mall, East, S.W.” and with “SFMS” illuminated flag logogram. Blued steel pointer, gilt index, heavy bevelled glass, lacquered brass bezel.
The standard Vidie pattern movement driven from a single nickel alloy capsule and tensioned on a C spring acting through levers and a fine chain, all raised over a circular cast iron chassis and fitted within a turned circular oak case maintained in an inner formed and plated metal shell. Bulkhead fixings at 12 and 6 o’clock, calibration port to verso.
Presented with its original heavy oak lacquered case, removable internal fittings, “Hodges Lock Joint” hinges, the inner lid with cast and engraved lacquered brass presentation plaque having illuminated “SFMS” flag logogram, and bearing the inscription “Presented to Henry Saffrey, Master of the S.T. [steamship] Queenstown for the rescue of the crew of the Norwegian Barque St. Joseph, October 9th 1905.”
Condition: The subject of a full service, conservation, and calibration under laboratory conditions, see performance chart from dynamic test. The movement working exceptionally well with maximum error across the scale of 0.15” showing at 28”. Good sensitivity and excellent progression.
The barometer with finely made and fitted replacement glass, the bezel retaining much original lacquer, the dial with characteristic crazing to glaze, the annotations clear and well defined. The turned light oak case retaining virtually all its original finish and appearing damage free, clean and structurally sound, the presentation plate with signs of ageing.
Comments: This Shipwrecked Mariners Society marine aneroid barometer was presented to Henry Saffrey, Master of the steamship Queenstown of Grimsby, for saving the crew of the Norwegian barque St. Joseph. Captain Saffrey was also presented with a SFMS Silver Medal and a purse of £3. Two of his crew, who went in a boat to the barque, were each presented with a SFMS Silver Medal and a purse of £2.
Marine Aneroid Barometers awarded by the Shipwrecked Fishermen & Mariners Society are highly sought after in their own right. To have one in such a presentation case, provided in just a few instances, is extremely rare. One of only two or three of these presentation barometers seen, this is a very attractive and clearly unusual item.
Dimensions: Barometer 6½” diameter x 2½” deep; Presentation Case 8¾" wide x 8⅞" deep x 4½"
Stock No: BA1944
Price: Vavasseur Archive - Not Currently for Sale