Photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Photobarograph commissioned by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, some design specifications attributed to Francis Ronalds, made in England, UK, 1867. Installed and operated at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford.

The photobarograph was an instrument designed for meteorological observatories that enabled a continuous photographic record of air pressure to be taken.

A gas lamp provided a light source, and a system of lenses projected an image of the mercury surface of a cistern barometer onto the photographically sensitive paper around the recording drum. The drum was driven by clockwork, rotating once every 48 hours. A vertical shutter operated by the clock blocked the light for 4 minutes every two hours, leaving a time mark on the paper to aid the accurate reading of the records.

Since atmospheric temperature affected the height of the mercury column, the instrument also had a system that provided automatic temperature correction. Two zinc rods, one either side of the barometer, were fixed at their lower ends; when they expanded as the temperature rose they tilted a horizontal glass rod that set the base line traced onto the photographic paper.

Details

Category:
Meteorology
Object Number:
1926-937
type:
barograph
credit:
Meteorological Office, South Kensington

Parts

Components from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Components from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Components of photobarograph commissioned by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, some design specifications attributed to Francis Ronalds, made in England, UK, 1867. Installed and operated at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford.

More

The photobarograph was an instrument designed for meteorological observatories that enabled a continuous photographic record of air pressure to be taken.

A gas lamp provided a light source, and a system of lenses projected an image of the mercury surface of a cistern barometer onto the photographically sensitive paper around the recording drum. The drum was driven by clockwork, rotating once every 48 hours. A vertical shutter operated by the clock blocked the light for 4 minutes every two hours, leaving a time mark on the paper to aid the accurate reading of the records.

Since atmospheric temperature affected the height of the mercury column, the instrument also had a system that provided automatic temperature correction. Two zinc rods, one either side of the barometer, were fixed at their lower ends; when they expanded as the temperature rose they tilted a horizontal glass rod that set the base line traced onto the photographic paper.

Materials:
glass , brass , rubber and metal (unidentified)
Object Number:
1926-937 Pt1
type:
components
Part of cover, recording drum and gas supply pipe from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Part of cover, recording drum and gas supply pipe from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Wooden rectangle with small knob handle, believed to be part of wooden cover for photographic components of photobarograph; brass recording drum; and lead supply pipe for gas lamp. All components from photobarograph commissioned by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, some design specifications attributed to Francis Ronalds, made in England, UK, 1867. Installed and operated at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford.

More

The photobarograph was an instrument designed for meteorological observatories that enabled a continuous photographic record of air pressure to be taken.

A gas lamp provided a light source, and a system of lenses projected an image of the mercury surface of a cistern barometer onto the photographically sensitive paper around the recording drum. The drum was driven by clockwork, rotating once every 48 hours. A vertical shutter operated by the clock blocked the light for 4 minutes every two hours, leaving a time mark on the paper to aid the accurate reading of the records.

Since atmospheric temperature affected the height of the mercury column, the instrument also had a system that provided automatic temperature correction. Two zinc rods, one either side of the barometer, were fixed at their lower ends; when they expanded as the temperature rose they tilted a horizontal glass rod that set the base line traced onto the photographic paper.

Materials:
brass (copper, zinc alloy) , lead (metal) and mahogany (wood)
Object Number:
1926-937 Pt1/1
type:
components
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1926-937 Pt1
Thermometer fragments, glass rod section and brass component from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Thermometer fragments, glass rod section and brass component from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Fragments of broken thermometer; section of glass rod, believed another part of horizontal glass rod under 1926-937/4; brass component that held thermometer and its external glass surround, containing broken glass fragments and cork for securing thermometer tube. Part of photobarograph commissioned by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, some design specifications attributed to Francis Ronalds, made in England, UK, 1867. Installed and operated at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford.

More

The photobarograph was an instrument designed for meteorological observatories that enabled a continuous photographic record of air pressure to be taken.

A gas lamp provided a light source, and a system of lenses projected an image of the mercury surface of a cistern barometer onto the photographically sensitive paper around the recording drum. The drum was driven by clockwork, rotating once every 48 hours. A vertical shutter operated by the clock blocked the light for 4 minutes every two hours, leaving a time mark on the paper to aid the accurate reading of the records.

Since atmospheric temperature affected the height of the mercury column, the instrument also had a system that provided automatic temperature correction. Two zinc rods, one either side of the barometer, were fixed at their lower ends; when they expanded as the temperature rose they tilted a horizontal glass rod that set the base line traced onto the photographic paper.

Materials:
glass and brass
Object Number:
1926-937 Pt1/2
type:
components
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1926-937 Pt1
Glass tube from barometer, part of photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Glass tube from barometer, part of photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Section of glass tube with tapered end, part of barometer component from photobarograph commissioned by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, some design specifications attributed to Francis Ronalds, made in England, UK, 1867. Installed and operated at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford.

More

The photobarograph was an instrument designed for meteorological observatories that enabled a continuous photographic record of air pressure to be taken.

A gas lamp provided a light source, and a system of lenses projected an image of the mercury surface of a cistern barometer onto the photographically sensitive paper around the recording drum. The drum was driven by clockwork, rotating once every 48 hours. A vertical shutter operated by the clock blocked the light for 4 minutes every two hours, leaving a time mark on the paper to aid the accurate reading of the records.

Since atmospheric temperature affected the height of the mercury column, the instrument also had a system that provided automatic temperature correction. Two zinc rods, one either side of the barometer, were fixed at their lower ends; when they expanded as the temperature rose they tilted a horizontal glass rod that set the base line traced onto the photographic paper.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
1926-937 Pt1/3
type:
tubes
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
1926-937 Pt1
Gas lamp cover from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Gas lamp cover from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Cover, or chimney, for a gas lamp, with coloured glass filters at sides. Part of photobarograph commissioned by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, some design specifications attributed to Francis Ronalds, made in England, UK, 1867. Installed and operated at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford.

More

The photobarograph was an instrument designed for meteorological observatories that enabled a continuous photographic record of air pressure to be taken.

A gas lamp provided a light source, and a system of lenses projected an image of the mercury surface of a cistern barometer onto the photographically sensitive paper around the recording drum. The drum was driven by clockwork, rotating once every 48 hours. A vertical shutter operated by the clock blocked the light for 4 minutes every two hours, leaving a time mark on the paper to aid the accurate reading of the records.

Since atmospheric temperature affected the height of the mercury column, the instrument also had a system that provided automatic temperature correction. Two zinc rods, one either side of the barometer, were fixed at their lower ends; when they expanded as the temperature rose they tilted a horizontal glass rod that set the base line traced onto the photographic paper.

Originally the photobarographs were supplied with glass chimneys for their gas lamps, but following experiments at Kew Observatory some were replaced with copper chimneys, like this one.

Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
1926-937/2
type:
lamp
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Condensing lens from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Condensing lens from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Condensing lens, for focussing the light from the gas lamp onto the mercury column of the barometer. Part of photobarograph commissioned by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, some design specifications attributed to Francis Ronalds, made in England, UK, 1867. Installed and operated at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford.

More

The photobarograph was an instrument designed for meteorological observatories that enabled a continuous photographic record of air pressure to be taken.

A gas lamp provided a light source, and a system of lenses projected an image of the mercury surface of a cistern barometer onto the photographically sensitive paper around the recording drum. The drum was driven by clockwork, rotating once every 48 hours. A vertical shutter operated by the clock blocked the light for 4 minutes every two hours, leaving a time mark on the paper to aid the accurate reading of the records.

Since atmospheric temperature affected the height of the mercury column, the instrument also had a system that provided automatic temperature correction. Two zinc rods, one either side of the barometer, were fixed at their lower ends; when they expanded as the temperature rose they tilted a horizontal glass rod that set the base line traced onto the photographic paper.

Materials:
brass (copper, zinc alloy) and glass
Object Number:
1926-937/3
type:
lens
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Three fragments of glass tubes from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Three fragments of glass tubes from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Three fragments of glass tubes from photobarograph commissioned by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, some design specifications attributed to Francis Ronalds, made in England, UK, 1867. Installed and operated at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford. Smaller bore tubes (two pieces) believed to be sections of horizontal glass rod, part of the instrument’s temperature compensation mechanism. Larger bore tube (one piece) believed to be part of surrounding glass tube for thermometer, which was a replacement made by the museum in the 1960s.

More

The photobarograph was an instrument designed for meteorological observatories that enabled a continuous photographic record of air pressure to be taken.

A gas lamp provided a light source, and a system of lenses projected an image of the mercury surface of a cistern barometer onto the photographically sensitive paper around the recording drum. The drum was driven by clockwork, rotating once every 48 hours. A vertical shutter operated by the clock blocked the light for 4 minutes every two hours, leaving a time mark on the paper to aid the accurate reading of the records.

Since atmospheric temperature affected the height of the mercury column, the instrument also had a system that provided automatic temperature correction. Two zinc rods, one either side of the barometer, were fixed at their lower ends; when they expanded as the temperature rose they tilted a horizontal glass rod that set the base line traced onto the photographic paper.

Materials:
glass
Object Number:
1926-937/4
type:
tubes
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Photographic lens from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Photographic lens from photobarograph used at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford

Photographic lens, J. H. Dallmeyer, London, England, no. 18605. Part of photobarograph commissioned by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, some design specifications attributed to Francis Ronalds, made in England, UK, 1867. Installed and operated at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford. Inscribed ‘B’ (for ‘barograph’) on base. This lens focussed an image of the barometer’s mercury column onto the photographic paper on the recording drum.

More

The photobarograph was an instrument designed for meteorological observatories that enabled a continuous photographic record of air pressure to be taken.

A gas lamp provided a light source, and a system of lenses projected an image of the mercury surface of a cistern barometer onto the photographically sensitive paper around the recording drum. The drum was driven by clockwork, rotating once every 48 hours. A vertical shutter operated by the clock blocked the light for 4 minutes every two hours, leaving a time mark on the paper to aid the accurate reading of the records.

Since atmospheric temperature affected the height of the mercury column, the instrument also had a system that provided automatic temperature correction. Two zinc rods, one either side of the barometer, were fixed at their lower ends; when they expanded as the temperature rose they tilted a horizontal glass rod that set the base line traced onto the photographic paper.

Materials:
brass , metal and glass
Object Number:
1926-937/5
type:
component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Components for Photobarograph

Components for Photobarograph

Pallet of components belonging to Photobarograph commissioned by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, some design specifications attributed to Francis Ronalds, made in England, UK, 1867. Installed and operated at Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford. Pallet consists of two glass tubes, barometer measuring dial, two weighted platforms, a brass cylindrical components, two wooden cuboid frames, a long component consisted of two parallel bars, and 19 metal components mostly consisting of brass.

More

The photobarograph was an instrument designed for meteorological observatories that enabled a continuous photographic record of air pressure to be taken.

A gas lamp provided a light source, and a system of lenses projected an image of the mercury surface of a cistern barometer onto the photographically sensitive paper around the recording drum. The drum was driven by clockwork, rotating once every 48 hours. A vertical shutter operated by the clock blocked the light for 4 minutes every two hours, leaving a time mark on the paper to aid the accurate reading of the records.

Since atmospheric temperature affected the height of the mercury column, the instrument also had a system that provided automatic temperature correction. Two zinc rods, one either side of the barometer, were fixed at their lower ends; when they expanded as the temperature rose they tilted a horizontal glass rod that set the base line traced onto the photographic paper.

Object Number:
1926-937/6
type:
barograph