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Barometer, made by James Crichton

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in Glasgow

Barometer, made by James Crichton
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This domestic mahogany stick barometer was made by one of the more important instrument makers in Glasgow at the start of the 19th century. James Crichton (fl. 1785-1835) made apparatus for John Anderson (1726-96), the professor of natural philosophy (physics) at Glasgow University. Anderson bequeathed all his property, including his lecturing equipment, towards the establishment of a new foundation, the Andersonnian Institution, which late became the University of Strathclyde.

The barometer has an ivory register plates stamped: 'CRICHTON // GLASGOW'. It is marked on either side from 27 to 31 inches, divided into tenths of an inch, with twin verniers (to read off fractions of an inch). There is a boxwood and leather cistern, with a brass adjustment screw. This is covered by a moulded rectangular cistern cover which unscrews for access at the side.

Crichton was well-known for his thermometers, four of which were owned by the Parisian chemist Lavoisier; another is in the collection of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. Crichton also made a balance for James Watt, and was involved in the making of Imperial standards to test the local weights and measures in Glasgow and the County of Lanarkshire in 1826.

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