Ship's barograph, ca. 1920s

Striking aneroid barograph for marine use made in France circa 1920. This device is a beautiful vintage item, in beautiful condition and working order. The barograph keeps all its original components, except one screw that holds the barrel containing the clockwork. The winding key for the movememt is included. In the barrel we can find the paper roll where the atmospheric pressure changes are registered and written, and the metal pointer. The urn that protects all these elements is made of solid wood and glass, and is also very well preserved. The mahogany wood it is made of boasts a nice dark reddish color that makes a great contrast with the metal parts and the transparent glass panes. The barograph also keeps the original bolts, hinges and handle, all of them made of chromed metal.Barographs are designed to measure atmospheric pressure and make weather forecasts. Aneroid barographs (similar to this one) register pressure variations depending on the expansion and contraction movements undergone by a sealed bellow. The horizontal metal pointer that we can see through the glass panes has a small ink deposit at the tip; it is connected with the bellows disks and reproduces their movements, drawing them on the paper roll. The barograph has a clockwork movement that rotates the roll.The movement works perfectly and the device can register pressure changes just as well as when it was conceived. All its parts are attached to a brass base embedded in the wooden base. We can also see the manufacturers monogram engraved in the metal, together with the serial number: 10813. At the top of the urn, just below the handle there is a metal plate with the following inscription: Richard Frères Inventeurs & Constructeurs Á Paris Enregistreur Breveté en France et à lÉtranger. This means that the barograph was made by Jules and Max Richards (Richard Frères), famous French brothers who founded the company in 1882. This was dissolved in 1891 though the RF monogram was retained as the firms symbol.This stunning barograph for marine use is designed to be part of the best collection of naval antiques and instruments.Measurements: Width: 290 mm. Height: 160 mm.