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Page 22 The Antique Shoppe September, 2017
BAROMETERS

Continued from Page 17

Attached to the plate, on the left, is a
white-back glass alcohol thermometer, held
in place by 2 pieces of metal wire, with a
1/4" to 3/8" diameter offset bulb, so that
the tube can lie flat on the face. Most of the
thermometers contain deep red alcohol for
ease of viewing, although yellow, orange,
purple and blue dyes have been noted. Some
of these thermometers could have been
replaced, though.
On the right is a Storm Glass, usually
measuring about 5" x 3/8" - 1/2" diameter,
and sealed at top and bottom, which
contains the liquid, a "super-saturated"
solution of camphor-nitrate of potassium and
Sal ammoniac - partly dissolved in alcohol,
with distilled water. The relative quantities 2 3 4 5 6 7
of these ingredients, and their efficiency
in predicting storms, have been debated The Cottage Barometers, as these The author is John Forster, owner of "Barometer Fair" in
since at least 1861 when Admiral Fitzroy - a instruments with the storm glass and the Florida, and these barometers form part of his collection of
staunch supporter of storm glasses - tried, thermometer came to be known, were popular interesting and unusual barometers. He can be contacted at:
unsuccessfully, to determine the origin of household items in the US in the late 1880's. Barometer Fair, P.O.Box 25502, Sarasota, FL 34277,
them. Admiral Fitzroy has been mentioned They were priced at $1.00 initially, but later at
twice (three times now) so perhaps it is $2.00, as shown in the description on the back; email: john@barometerfair.com
time to say a few words about him; he was some even came with a warning line at the Phone: 941 400 7044
Captain Fitzroy when he sailed off to the bottom (presumably not the $1.00 version!)
Galapagos Islands with Charles Darwin in "beware of worthless imitations. None genuine
the late 1850's, on a 30 month exploration. without the above TRADE MARK". The price
Darwin went on to write "The Origin of the on another has been covered over with a
Species" on his return to England, and Fitzroy label saying "price one shilling", so they were
devoted the remainder of his long life to presumably made for export, and since they
weather forecasting, particularly for sailors. were mostly made in upstate New York, the one
He thought up many weather-related sayings, advertising newspapers in Canada, indicates that
such as "red sky at night, sailors' delight" they also went north.
(which for land-lubbers, became "red sky Cottage Barometers are still readily available
at night, farmers' delight") and also many at antique shows and on eBay, and are usually
phrases related to the direction and strength priced under $200. As well as these early ones,
of the winds, and barometric readings. there are newer ones, from the beginning of the
Admiral Fitzroy's Barometers, much 20th century, (still over 100 years old) and they
sought after, are usually heavy Victorian make a fun, useful, and inexpensive collection.
carvings, in oak, with many printed While this article has tried to illustrate some of
descriptions alongside the mercury tube, the small variations in those, there is still a lot
and a Storm Glass next to the thermometer. more research required. Happy collecting! 12 13 14 15
He worked with a London company called
Negretti and Zambra for the construction NAME
of most of his barometers, with whom he TITLE THERM BENEATH THE LABEL ON DESCRIPTION PRICE ON NOTES:
had much correspondence concerning the /SCALE THERMOMETER (A) REVERSE ON REVERSE REVERSE (A) More writing may be
make-up and efficacy of the storm bottles. He 1. STANDARD -20 CHAS. E LARGE WHITE PAPER STANDARD NO PRICE hidden beneath the
believed that the crystals would materialise BAROMETER 130 PRINTED (B) wood moulding
before a storm, possibly caused by static 2. STANDARD -10 CHAS. E LARGE WHITE PAPER STANDARD $1.00 (B) “Made in USA” printed
BAROMETER
electricity and temperature, and that the 120 BROOKLYN NY. instead
storm glass would be a good adjunct to his 3. STANDARD -50C CHAS. E LARGE WHITE PAPER STANDARD NO PRICE
mercury barometer. While it is known that BAROMETER 150 BROOKLYN NY. PRINTED (C) Thermometer and scale
replaced by silvered
the crystals do appear, (sometimes even 4. STANDARD -50 (D) MISSING brass, J.T. Lange & Son
before a storm!) even today nobody knows BAROMETER 110 PAT. OCT 4 1892 Williamsburgh
why. 5. COTTAGE -20 NOTHING NO LABEL- NO PRICE
BAROMETER 120 VISIBLE PRINTED ON COTTAGE PRINTED (D) Printed beneath the
WOOD storm bottle S.P. Scott
6. HOMESTEAD -30 J.T. LANGE + SON LANGE’S Buffalo NY Also 1 inch
BAROMETER 130 BROOKLYN NY WHITE PAPER HOMESTEAD $2.00 shorter
7. KICKAPOO OIL -40 NOTHING (E) Also flag of 4 white stars
QUICK CURE FOR ALL 140 VISIBLE BLUE/GREEN COTTAGE $2.00 on blue field
11 PAINS (F) “Beware of worthless
8. WHEATLET
EATEN & ENJOYED -60 FRANKLIN MILLS BLUE/GREEN COTTAGE $2.00 imitations. Non genuine
IN ALL KINDS OF 120 CO. without the above
WEATHER TRADEMARK.
9. DR. GOSS (G) Label covered over with
-40
FAMILY TEA 130 MADE IN USA MISSING PRICE ONE SHILLING
CURES CONSTIPATION
10. ADMIRAL -50 NOTHING (F) (H) Faded gold printing on
BAROMETER 120 VISIBLE WHITE PAPER COTTAGE MISSING very dark (blue?) paper
11. THE WEEKLY
-40
(F)
TELEGRAPH 120 NOTHING BLUE/GREEN COTTAGE (G)
VISIBLE
BAROMETER
12. FAMILY HERALD
AND WEEKLY STAR -30 NOTHING BLUE/GREEN (F) $2.00
(MONTREAL CAN.) 120 VISIBLE COTTAGE
BAROMETER
13. POOLS COTTAGE -50 NOTHING (F)
BAROMETER 130 VISIBLE WHITE PAPER COTTAGE MISSING
14. POOL COTTAGE -30 NOTHING (F)
BAROMETER 120 VISIBLE WHITE PAPER COTTAGE $2.00
15. MANHATTAN -60 CHAS E. LARGE
8 9 10 BAROMETER 150 BROOKLYN NY. WHITE PAPER STANDARD MISSING