overall in case: 1 1/4 in x 2 7/16 in; 3.175 cm x 6.19125 cm
Object Name:
aneroid barometer
Place made:
United Kingdom: England, London
Date made:
late 19th century
Description:
This pocket aneroid barometer is 2 inches diameter. The inscription on the face reads: “COMPENSATED / TEMP ALT. SCALE / 50° FAHT / J. H. STEWARD LTD / 406, STRAND / 457, WEST STRAND / LONDON / 6191.” The circumference of the face is graduated for altitude, from -10 to +1500 feet. An inner circle is graduated from 17.5 to 31 inches of mercury. A paper label in the lid of the leather case provides a correction to be applied to the altitude scale for mean air temperature above or below 50° Fahrenheit.
James Henry Steward opened an optical instrument shop at 406 Strand in 1857, a second shop at 457 West Strand in 1886, and a third shop at 7 Gracechurch St. in 1893. While Steward sold this instrument, he probably did not make it.
This was used by the Washington born intaglio artist Benson Bond Moore. The Archives of American Art transferred it to the National Museum of American History.
