IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CASES OR FRAMES OF BAROMETERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Witherspoon, of Fox Court, Brook Street, Holborn,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CASES OR FRAMES OF BAROMETERS."
Sealed the 1st July 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 11th Santambar 1070
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Witherspoon at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th September 1878.
JAMES WITHERSPOON, of Fox Court, Brook Street, Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CASES OR FRAMES OF BAROMETERS."
My Invention has for its object improvements in the cases or frames of that class
of barometer known as the "Fitzroy barometer," with glass covering the entire
front, and relates to means for facilitating the making the same portable or
unportable, as required, without the necessity for removing the plinth, moulding, or
part of frame at top or bottom, and taking the glass out from the front as
heretofore.
For this purpose I form a small door or slide in the side or back of the frame so
as to afford facility for fixing the plug in the cistern of the barometer tube when
required for transit, and of removing the plug therefrom when the barometer is
required for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Witherspoon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st July
1879.
JAMES WITHERSPOON, of Fox Court, Brook Street, Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CASES OR FRAMES OF BAROMETERS."
My Invention has for its object improvements in the cases or frames of that class
of barometers known as the "Fitzroy barometer," with glass covering the entire
[Price 4d1

page_text: front, and relates to means for facilitating the making the same portable or
unportable, as required, without the necessity for removing the plinth, moulding,
or part of frame at top or bottom, and taking the glass out from the front as
heretofore.
For this purpose I form a small door or slide in the side or back of the frame so
as to afford facility for fixing the plug in the cistern of the barometer tube when
required for transit, and of removing the plug therefrom when the barometer is
required for use.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 is a back view of a Fitzroy barometer,
the case or frame of which has my improvements applied thereto. a is the barometer
tube; b, the scale; c, the front; and d, the back of the case or frame; e is a
thermometer; and f is a storm glass.
Heretofore when it has been required to fix a plug in the cistern a¹ of the barometer
tube, or to remove it therefrom, it has been necessary to remove the glass either
partially or entirely from the front of the barometer, to permit of which it was
necessary to remove the plinth moulding or part of frame at the top or bottom of
the barometer. According to my Invention I obviate this difficulty by making a
small door d¹ in the back of the case, by opening which the plug 9 may be inserted
in or removed from the cistern a¹ as required.
I preferably cause the door to close against a beading or rabetting to keep out
dust from the interior of the barometer case or frame; and in order to prevent the
appearance of the barometer being injured by such door I preferably fix a beading,
moulding, or strip d² on the inside of the back d at the top and bottom of the door,
and I binge the door d¹ in a line immediately at the back of the tube a and cause
it to close behind the sides of the case or frame, by which means the lines of junction
of the door d¹ with the case or frame are completely hidden when looking at the
front of the barometer.
The door may however be differently shaped and mounted so long as it is capable
of being opened and closed for the purpose stated.
I also prefer to fix the thermometer e to the door d¹, but it may be otherwise
arranged if desired.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I prefer to carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim
is making a small door d¹ in the back of the case or frame of a Fitzroy barometer
in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Witherspoon, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand. eight hundred and seventy nine.
JAMES WITHERSPOON. (L.S.)