Barometer

Description:

The Central Scientific Company, a major purveyor of apparatus for educational, industrial and scientific use, introduced a new mercury barometer in the early 1920s. Recognizing the flaws inherent in instruments in which the tube and scales were mounted on a wooden back, Central Scientific boasted that their Cenco-Improved barometer featured a tube “completely enclosed in hexagonal brass tubing, to which are attached the metric and British scales.” And, instead of the leather bag cistern found in most Fortin style barometers, Cenco’s new cistern was made of a plastic material that would not leak, and was designed so as to allow fine adjustment of the mercury level.

This example represents a further refinement of the form introduced in the late 1920s. The inscriptions read “Central Scientific Co.” and “1,353,482” and “1,632,084.” New, it cost $35.

Ref: Central Scientific Company, Catalog F. Physical Apparatus and Instruments (Chicago, 1923), p. 43.

Central Scientific Company, Scientific Instruments, Laboratory Apparatus, and Supplies (Chicago, 1941), pp. 1152-1153.

Arndt M. Krause, "Mercurial Barometer," U.S. Patent 1,353,482 (1920).

Paul Klopsteg and Herman Paul Sachse, "Mercurial Barometer," U.S. Patent 1,632,084 (1927).

Date Made: after 1927

Maker: Central Scientific Company

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Illinois, Chicago

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences, Barometers, Measuring & Mapping

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: U.S. Military Academy

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: PH.316421Accession Number: 223721Catalog Number: 316421

Object Name: mercury barometer

Measurements: overall: 35 1/4 in x 1 3/4 in; 89.535 cm x 4.445 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-7a3f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1419717

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