A very good explorers or balloonists silver aneroid pocket barometer altimeter no 5434 to 15,000ft retailed by Army & Navy Cooperative Stores Ltd c1889

Silver pocket barometer having 1¾” silvered, engine divided and engraved dial with dual concentric scales, the outer altitude scale calibrated in feet from 0 – 15,000ft and divided to 100ft, the inner barometric scale calibrated in inches of mercury with a range from 18” to 31” and divided to 1/10ths. The upper part with standard meteorological terms and “Compensated,” the lower struck “A&NCSL” with serial no. “5434.” Fine blued steel pointer, rotating bezel with spine index, heavy bevelled glass. Conventional first quality 1” capsule driven movement tensioned on a C spring.

The whole enclosed in a semi barrel form case, engine turned decoration, full hallmarks for sterling silver, London, 1889, and the silversmith Philip Woodman & Sons to verso with calibration port. Pendant with hallmarks for William Smily and 1870, and pinned bow hallmarked for silver.

Presented in a burgundy leather over timber, crimson silk and velvet lined case, snap closure on a button release, the verso stamped “England.”

Condition: The subject of a full service, conservation, and calibration under laboratory conditions, see performance chart from dynamic test. The movement with both good progression, working across the range with particularly good accuracy between 26” and 31”, resolution deteriorates at lower pressures quite in line with the majority of instruments of this age.

The dial crisp, clean and clear, very slight shading towards centre. The silver case, with clear hallmarks, remains essentially damage free with good colour and resonance. The leather travel case with little signs of wear, remaining in excellent condition both internally and externally.

Comments: Army & Navy Cooperative Stores Ltd  are known as suppliers of quality instruments to travellers, explorers and military folk, and this is no exception. The quality is first class, the movement probably by noted maker JH Steward, and the silver case by Philip Woodman & Sons is both attractive and well executed. This is what has now become a comparatively scarce instrument of this type and in this very crisp condition.

With these silver pocket instruments, it is not at all unusual for the pendant and bow to be made by a different silversmith to the main case, and for there to be several years between the hallmarked dates. Here, however, it may be that the pendant and bow were taken from an earlier pocket watch or pocket barometer case, given the 19 year difference.

An ideal gift or a collector’s piece for the discerning connoisseur.