Drum barograph constructed principally in lacquered brass. Conventional 8-day drum recorder, bearing “Pat. No. 3715.02” to top plate, with its original good quality platform escapement with balance guards, captive winding key and top cover. The whole mounted on a conical base with sun gear. The barometer set on separate unsigned chassis with fluted border and raised on four turned brass supporting pillars, the first cross beam marked “Tycos,” eight capsule pressure sensing set with adjustment wheel over. Well-engineered connecting mechanism of conventional pattern ultimately driving a barometer and register arm with superior swinging gate system to barograph. Base-mounted arrester bar with single stop pin. 4½” silvered and engraved brass open dial, the outer part with standard meteorological terms “Stormy, Rain, Change, Fair, Very Dry,” the barometric scale calibrated in inches of mercury with a range from 28 – 31, the lower part bearing registered design no. “428606” and retailer’s name “Thomson, Skinner & Hamilton, Glasgow” together with serial no. “H 5431.” Ink station with corked bottle and dipper. The whole contained within its original lacquered light oak five glass case raised on bun feet.

The barograph having been dismantled, conserved and cleaned, and re-set. This includes polishing and re-setting all pivots, re-balancing and aligning the mechanism. The barometric mechanism re-calibrated and pressure chamber tested to full scale deflection under laboratory conditions, the performance graph below showing average error to be approximately 1/20th of an inch – a very acceptable value. It was noted that the instrument maintained good sensitivity and progression, the recorded trace confirming this. The cabinet having been completely disassembled, cleaned and re-lacquered.

Such drum barographs with a barometer dial in the case may be considered scarce. Certainly the most popular form of barograph, this one is additionally attractive in its light oak colour. The majority of barographs require considerable restoration – this one has survived remarkably well and remains original in virtually all respects.

US-based Taylor Brothers bought the highly-respected British firm of Short & Mason in 1900. Short & Mason’s high-quality weather instruments and other scientific apparatus were known throughout the world, and Taylor began marketing these in the US, using the brand name “Tycos” – this brand name came to be used on both sides of the Atlantic.

Dimensions: 14¼” wide x 9″ high x 7½” deep

Stock No: BG1072

Price: SOLD