A good scarce aneroid motor barometer altimeter by Smith & Sons (Motor Accessories) Ltd, 179-185 Great Portland St, London W, c1925

Motor aneroid having 3⅛“ silvered die struck dial, the outer bezel-set bi-directional altimetric scale calibrated in feet with Ascent and Descent scales in red and black, centre point at Zero, full positive and negative deflections at 2,000ft, all divided to 20ft. The inset barometric scale calibrated in inches of mercury with a range from 27” – 31” divided to 1/20”. The upper part marked “Motor Aneroid,” the lower with Smiths registered trademark logogram and London address “179-185 Gt Portland Street, London W.” Japanned light alloy pointer, heavy bevelled glass, heavy nickel plated bezel.

Standard well executed Vidie pattern movement driven from a single 1¾” nickel alloy capsule tensioned on a C spring, all raised over a light alloy chassis. The whole presented within a japanned drum form case, the rear with pressed flat fixing brackets attached, the verso with calibration port.

Condition: The subject of a full service, conservation, and calibration under laboratory conditions, see performance chart from dynamic test. The movement working exceptionally well to approximately 1/10” error across the scale, displaying excellent sensitivity and progression. A good quality movement with finely poised and set hair spring, finished overall to a high standard, unsigned but almost certainly by Short & Mason.

The dial with very minor marks at centre, otherwise clean and bright. The glass with minor scratches and one small chip towards centre. The bezel retaining much of its original plated finish. The case retaining most of what is almost certainly its original black finish.

Comments: These instruments are very hard to find, and this one presents in really excellent condition. It is possible that at an earlier time the movement was replaced or upgraded, as the fixing holes in the chassis appear redone, but it is in pattern identical to a slightly earlier instrument previously sold on this site.

The brackets appear to be removable, thus affording a number of options for dash panel fixing. Easily good enough for the finest classic car restoration

NB: We also have available a Smiths car clock, serial no. 84397, from the same period and in an almost identical pattern case. For more information, click HERE and see image of both instruments below.