Beschreibung:

A Victorian Aneroid barometer and mercury thermometer desk compendium, Dollond, London, late 19th century The barometer with 2.25 inch circular silvered register signed DOLLOND, LONDON and inscribed Compensated, 5809 to centre within concentric scale calibrated for barometric inches divided into tenths and annotated with basic weather observations within outer scale calibrated in feet from 0 to 8,000 and divided for 50 foot intervals, the rotating gilt brass bezel with steel recording pointer fitted to frosted gilt drum-shaped case with moulded bands to circumference, diameter 6.8cm (2.625ins); fitted into a canted banjo-shaped ebony panel beneath arched FAHRENHEIT and CENTIGRADE scale mercury tube thermometer with ivory register signed DOLLOND, London to the apex, the whole supported via a shaped bracket onto s rectangular plinth base 25.5cm (10ins) high overall. The Dollond family firm of Scientific Instrument makers was established by Peter Dollond who is recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1680-1860 as born 1730 and died 1820. He was the son of John Dollond, a Huguenot silk weaver and started business as an optician in 1750. He was joined by his father in 1752 until his death in 1761, and then by his brother, John, until his death in 1804. The business was continued by Peter Dollond's nephew, George Huggins, who changed his name to Dollond. George Dollond became instrument maker to William IV and Queen Victoria, exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and died 1856.