Barometer

This barometer was made in Paris around 1852 by Edward J. Dent (1790-1853), a scientific instrument maker based in London. It is a type known as an aneroid barometer (from the Greek, meaning 'not wet') and has a small Fahrenheit thermometer.

The instrument has a partly evacuated copper chamber connected by an iron frame to a spring which leads to a lever system and the rod to which the pointer is attached. The scale is signed 'E. J. DENT / Paris/ 6890'.

This form of aneroid barometer was invented by Lucien Vidie (1805-66), who patented it in his native France in 1845 and in Britain in 1850.

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-728-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1974.210
• Date: 1852
  c. 1852
  
• Material: Copper chamber, iron frame, brass case, silvered scale. Inscription: E.J. DENT / Paris
  Barometer, aneroid
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Barometer, aneroid
  
• Subject: 10. METEOROLOGY (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: E.J. Dent, Paris (Maker)
  
• Where: France, Paris
  
• Event:
• Description: Aneroid barometer signed by E.J. Dent of Paris, c. 1852
  
• References:
  • 'Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society, Meeting 8th March 1848' in Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 7, 1847-8, pp 479-81 
  • Middleton, W. E. K., The History of the Barometer. Baltimore, Maryland: 1964, pp 400-9 
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