Thermometer, probably made by Negretti & Zambra

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This type of spirit minimum thermometer was used on HMS 'Discovery' between 1901 and 1904, on its expedition to the Antarctic. The thermometer was made around 1900, probably by Negretti & Zambra, scientific instrument makers based in London.

The instrument has a scale reading from -90 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It was used to find out how low the air temperature dropped. The instrument is marked 'ANT: EX: 1901', with Hydrographic Office and Meteorological Office markings.

Robert Falcon Scott, RN (1868-1912) led the British National Antarctic Expedition between 1901 and 1904, which explored the Ross Sea area and discovered King Edward VII Land.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-000-976-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1911.66
• Date: Around 1900
  
• Material: Inscription: MO 47, HO [upward pointing arrow] 12 [Admiralty marks]
  Specimen / nautical instrument / meteorological instrument / the
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Specimen / nautical instrument / meteorological instrument / the
  
• Subject: 22. PHYSICS, Heat (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Admiralty (Owner)
  Negretti and Zambra, London (Instrument maker)
  
• Where: England, London
  
• Event: Antarctic Expedition
  
• Description: One of a collection of surveying, nautical, astronomical, meteorological and drawing instruments - a minimum thermometer, marked, made by Negretti and Zambra, as used on the Antarctic Expedition, 1901
  
• References:
  • For spirit minimum thermometers, see W.E.K. Middleton. A history of the Thermometer and Its Use in Meteorology. Baltimore, 1966, pp 149-164. 
  • For the history of the Discovery, see Ann Savours. The Voyages of the Discovery: the Illustrated History of Scott's Ship. London: Virgin Books, 1992. 
  • For the history of this expedition, see Clements Markham. Antarctic Obsession: A Personal Narrative of the Origins of the British National Antarctic Expedition 1901-4, edited by Clive Holland. Harleston, Norfolk, 1986. 
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