A very good gilt brass Watkin Patent extended scale barometer altimeter by J Hicks, London, No 354, scaled to 5,000ft, c1888

Barometer altimeter having finely engraved and silvered 3″ brass dial with tri-concentric altitude and barometric scales, reading indicator set at 6 o’clock, calibrations from 25.8-31 inches of mercury and from 0–5,000ft, “Watkin Patent” in an arc above the centre with “Compensated” and serial “No 354,” the lower dial signed by the maker “J. Hicks, 8, 9 & 10 Hatton Gardens, London.” Fine blued-steel index, very fine telltale with spring anchor to arbour.

The whole contained within its original fine oxblood leather split case, having closing clip, inner rim to top and bottom section with fine tooled dogstooth pattern, the lid lined with cream silk, the lower lined with fine indigo velvet.

The dial unmarked, the case with very minor points of oxidation, some associated wear and age patination. The case inner lid with indistinct annotation in pen as follows: “Shap summit 1968, Carlisle? 1024, – 893,” “Beattock summit 1350, ?????, 740,” and “Bal 4, L Kat 2.5,  Sh???? -7.5,” the instrument case with lightly hand-engraved caption “Jan 8th1896″ and an index mark.

A rare and significantly interesting Watkin Patent extended scale aneroid barometer, remaining in ‘as found’ and entirely original condition.

Major (later Colonel) Henry Samuel Spiller Watkin of the Royal Artillery was granted a British patent no. 3425 for a rotary indicator and dial scale on 11 March 1886.