A rare very early Vidie aneroid desk barometer No 352 in amboyna sloping front case c1847

Antique aneroid barometer having 4½” silvered and engraved dial, the upper part with semi-circular barometric scale calibrated in inches of mercury with a range from 28–31” divided to 1/20th and bordered by standard meteorological terms, to the centre the annotation “Aneroid Barometer,” the lower part with semi-circular thermometer, the register marked “Fahrenheit’s Thermometer” with a range from 0–130 degrees, serial no. “352” engraved below. Blued steel pointer, gilt brass tell tale. Flat glass with gilt reflector ring and Dent style herringbone pattern bezel. All contained within a spun brass case, the verso with calibration port set at 7 o’clock. Case extension and suspension ring.

The capsule of the very early copper type, the top pivot plate of finely-cast iron bearing upon a coil spring. The chassis retained within the case with square brass nuts.

All contained within its original plum velvet lined boxwood strung amboyna veneered sloping desk case with circular viewing port, early hinges struck “PM&Co Patent” set with steel screws, original lock and key, brass escutcheon.

Condition: The subject of some conservation, a full mechanical overhaul and re-calibration under laboratory conditions. The instrument remaining in original condition throughout, retaining almost all the lacquered and gilt finish to the case, some minor abrasions and points of oxidation, the verso with some scratches. The dial essentially crisp, some minor shadowing. The movement working well with more than acceptable accuracy and sensitivity, see performance chart.

The timber case, the subject of some conservation, presents very well, the highly figured veneer contrasting well with the boxwood stringing. The original lock working well with what is almost certainly its original key. The interior, constructed in soft wood, has contracted over time leading to some misalignment of the instrument to the viewing port though this is only obvious if viewed from the perpendicular. The velvet lining retaining much of its original vibrancy, remaining largely intact save for some shrinkage round the inside of the viewing port. Replacements include two small pieces of boxwood stringing, and velvet to the inside of the viewing port. In all other respects, this case remains in original aged condition.

Comments: These early instruments are of great interest not only because they were amongst the first commercially available aneroid barometers but are a commentary on the relationship between “making” and “retail.”

Lucien Vidie, the maker of this instrument, had been involved in a very high profile court case with Antoine Redier whom Vidie had commissioned to make the first instruments. It was because of this court case and the surrounding negative publicity for the inventor that the first instruments appeared in any numbers in the UK, retailed by Edward Dent.

One thing is very clear – these instruments are still capable of resolving pressure changes, both with good levels of sensitivity and with accuracy.

Serial no. 352 is one of the very lowest numbers recorded. It was made in France at Vidie’s workshops, and imported and sold in the UK by Dent.

The hinges were supplied by Paul Moore & Co of Birmingham. Moore was granted a patent in September 1842 for an improved stop butt hinge.

Now a very hard to find item in this condition, aesthetically beautiful and historically very important, this antique desk barometer is most certainly a piece for the collector or connoisseur alike.