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Lot 16
A fine George III mahogany bowfronted mercury stick barometer, Troughton, London, circa 1820, With swan neck pediment above silvered vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches and with the usual weather observations beneath signature Troughton, London to upper margin within moulded surround for the curved glass, the flame figured trunk of bowed profile and with ebony strung edges with convex throat moulding and vernier adjustment screw to upper section, the base with turned ebony half vase cistern cover flanked by lozenge inlaid canted angles with level adjustment to the cavetto moulded underside, (glass lacking), 100cm (39.5ins) high. The current lot was probably made by Edward Troughton who is recorded in Clifton, Gloria Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851 as first working in partnership with his brother, John from several addresses in London (including QueenÂ’s Square, Bartholemew and 136 Fleet Street) from 1788 until JohnÂ’s death in 1804. Edward continued alone from their Fleet Street address until 1826 when he formed a partnership with William Simms which lasted until after TroughtonÂ’s death in 1831. Edward Troughton was apparently quite a character choosing to live a semi-reclusive life and was characterised by his snuff-stained wig and ear trumpet! However his skill both in the manufacture and design of fine instruments led him to be awarded lucrative contracts from The East India Company, The Board of Ordnance, the Royal Observatory and The Board of Longitude.
Lot 17
A fine George III mahogany mercury stick barometer with hygrometer, Edward Nairne, London, late 18th century, The caddy moulded arch-top case inset with circular glazed hygrometer with independent adjustment for the hygrometer beard pointer via a brass turn-screw set beneath operating a pair of visible geared wheels fitted to the rear of the instrument, over concave-topped inset silvered vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches to the right hand margin opposing weather observations to the left, the upper margin with engraved signature Nairne, London, the conforming caddy moulded figured mahogany veneered trunk with exposed tube above rounded base applied with half-sphere cistern cover with moulded cylindrical upstand and narrow band to waist, the underside with brass level adjustment screw, 104cm (41ins) high. Edward Nairne was born in 1726 and apprenticed to the celebrated instrument maker, Matthew Loft, in 1741. Latterly he worked from 20 Cornhill and published numerous booklets on navigational, pneumatic and astronomical instruments. In 1776 Nairne devised a marine barometer with a restriction in the bore of the mercury tube which served to dampen the oscillation of the mercury; he was elected to the Royal Society in the same year. In 1774 he formed a loose partnership with his former apprentice Thomas Blunt, perhaps for mutual convenience as BluntÂ’s premises were next door to NairneÂ’s at 22 Cornhill. Edward Nairne is believed to have retired to Chelsea in 1801 and died in 1806.
Lot 18
A fine George III mahogany mercury stick barometer, John Bleuler, London, late 18th century, The arched silvered vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches to the right hand margin opposing weather observations to the left, the upper margin with engraved signature J. Bleuler, London set behind moulded arch-glazed door, the caddy moulded figured mahogany veneered trunk with exposed tube above rounded base applied with half-sphere cistern cover with moulded cylindrical upstand and narrow band to waist, the underside with brass level adjustment screw, 94cm (37ins) high. John Bleuler is recorded in Clifton, Gloria Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851 as apprenticed to Henry Shuttleworth in 1771, he took on the business of the late Thomas Whitford at 27 Ludgate Hill, London in 1791 and worked from that address until 1822. He died in 1829.
Lot 19
A fine George III mahogany bayonet-tube mercury stick barometer with hygrometer and Fahrenheit scale thermometer, Samuel Toulmin, London, circa 1775, The caddy moulded case with open triangular pediment above hygrometer with independent adjustment for the hygrometer beard pointer via a brass turn-screw set beneath, over inset silvered vernier scale with curved lower angles and calibrated in barometric inches to the right hand margin opposing weather observations to the left, the upper margin signed Toulmin Strand London, the trunk inset with silvered brass break-arch Fahrenheit scale mercury tube thermometer with domed brass protective cover to the bulb and decorative engraved border, the rounded base with circular moulded cistern cover and brass level adjustment screw to underside, 109cm (43ins) high. Samuel Toulmin is recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as working from Strand, London 1757-83.
Lot 20
A fine George III slender mahogany mercury stick barometer with ivory cistern float, Alexander Adie, Edinburgh, early 19th century, The slender figured mahogany case with brass vernier adjustment screw to top above inset rectangular silvered vernier scale with canted upper angles and calibrated in barometric inches to right hand margin beneath engraved signature A. Adie, Edinburgh to upper edge, the trunk with visible tube above moulded reeded square section cistern cover with ivory mercury float to right hand side and brass level adjustment screw beneath, 94.5cm (37.25ins) high. Alexander Adie is recorded in Goodison, Nicholas English BAROMETERS 1680-1860 as born 1774 and apprenticed to his uncle, the eminent Scottish instrument maker John Miller, in 1789. In 1804 his uncle took him into partnership under the name of Miller and Adie which continued until after MillerÂ’s death in 1815. Adie was particularly interested in meteorological instruments and is perhaps best known as the inventor of the Sympiesometer in 1818. In recognition of his work he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1819. He was appointed optician to William IV and later Queen Victoria and took one of his sons, John, into partnership in 1835. Two of his other sons set up businesses; Robert in Liverpool and Patrick in London. Unfortunately John Adie was prone to ‘fits of despondencyÂ’ which resulted in him shooting himself in 1857, Alexander Adie died the following year - no doubt expediated by the stress of his sonÂ’s demise. The current lot appears to be a well made but functional model from AdieÂ’s range that has practical refinements such as screw vernier adjustment to the top of the case and ivory cistern float. These details, along with the reeded decoration to the cistern cover, demonstrates a commonality between the current lot and the more exotic slender bowfronted model produced by Adie; an example of which was sold in these rooms on Tuesday 4th September 2012 (lot 112) for £7,500 hammer.
Lot 21
A mahogany mercury stick barometer with hygrometer and mercury Fahrenheit scale thermometer, The register bearing signature for James Gatty, London, late 18th century and later, The boxwood edged case with open triangular pediment above hygrometer set behind convex glazed cast brass bezel over rectangular glazed door with curved lower angles enclosing conforming silvered vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches to the right hand margin opposing weather observations to the left, the upper margin bearing engraved signature James, Gatty, London, the trunk with further long rectangular glazed door enclosing mercury tube Fahrenheit scale thermometer with brass cage protection to the bulb and wheatear engraved arched border enclosing delicate leafy scrolls to upper margin, the rounded base with ring-turned domed cistern cover and level adjustment screw to underside, 109cm (43ins) high
Lot 22
A Regency inlaid mahogany mercury stick barometer, Purchion, Leeds, early 19th century, With pierced crest above parquetry banded cavetto cornice and rectangular glazed door enclosing heavy siphon tube with simple wire recording pointer before a white painted scale calibrated in barometric inches and with the usual weather observations within husk decorated arched surround with gilt fan infill to upper corners and signed Purchion Leeds to the lower margin, the trunk with exposed tube flanked by repeating lozenge inlaid decoration to fascia and scroll pierced ears, the shaped base applied with floral marquetry decorated oval cover enclosing bulb cistern, 98cm (38.5ins) high. A George Purcheon is recorded in Banfield, Edwin, BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as working from Glass House, Leeds circa 1820-40. Banfield notes that he made barometers with paper or enamelled (painted) plates; a related instrument by George Purcheon is illustrated by Banfield in BAROMETERS, Stick or Cistern Tube on page 116.
Lot 23
A rosewood and mahogany mercury tube stick barometer, C.A. Canti, London, circa 1840, The arched case with canted surround to the applied engraved ivory vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches and with the usual weather observations opposing mercury Fahrenheit and Reaumur scale thermometer, the upper left margin inscribed C.A. CANTI, 30 HIGH HOLBORN, the waisted trunk with visible tube above rounded base applied with a half-ovoid cistern cover with moulded cylindrical upstand and narrow band to waist, the underside with brass level adjustment screw, 91.5cm (36ins) high. C.A. Canti is recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as working from 30 High Holborn, London, circa 1830-60.
Lot 24
A rare Victorian cast iron mounted oak outdoor mercury stick barometer, Chadburn Brothers, Sheffield for E.H. Straw, London, mid 19th century, The arch-glazed canted silvered brass double vernier scale calibrated in barometric inches and with the usual weather observations labelled YESTER’Y 9. A.M. and TODAY 9. A.M. to lower margin, the arch engraved with retailer’s signature E.H. STRAW, OPTICIAN, 69 LEMAN ST., WHITECHAPEL set within moulded surround to the heavy cast iron arched fascia incorporating relief trade label CHADBURN BRO’S, OPTICIANS & C., SHEFFIELD to lower rail over vernier adjustment screws, conforming arch-glazed mercury tube Fahrenheit and Reaumur scale thermometer with spiral bulb (damaged) and moulded circular cistern panel decorated with armorial device, the plate fitted via brass capped studs onto a moulded oak back panel, 100cm (39.5ins) high. Chadburn Brothers are recorded in Banfield, Edwin, BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as ‘notable makers’ working from Albion Works, 26 Nursery Road, Sheffield and 71 Lord Street, Liverpool circa 1837-75. E.H. Straw do not appear to be recorded in the usual sources.
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