Banjo Barometer
date: label: date made
content: 1855-1867
notes: label: Description
content: This is a compound instrument in a wooden frame. The large circular face is silvered. The scale around the edge extends from 28 to 31 inches of mercury, and subdivided to 0.01 inches; there are also indications for “STORMY,” MUCH RAIN,” “RAIN,” “Change,” “FAIR,” “SET FAIR,” and “Very Dry.” There is a mercury-in-glass thermometer above, mounted on a silvered scale that extends from 0 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, with indications for “Freezing,” “Blood Heat,” etc. At top there is a small gut hygrometer. A medallion at the bottom reads “B. PIKE & SONS / 518 BROADWAY / NEW YORK.” The firm was in business from 1841 to 1867, and at this address from 1855. It is difficult to know if the Pikes made this instrument, or simply sold it.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
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content: Barometers
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content: Measuring & Mapping
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Silvio Bedini
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PH.319958
label: accession number
content: 240912
label: catalog number
content: 319958
objectType: label: Object Name
content: mercury banjo barometer
label: Object Name
content: barometer
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 36 7/8 in x 10 in x 1 1/4 in; 93.6625 cm x 25.4 cm x 3.175 cm