Accession No
0468
Brief Description
compendium with mercury-in-glass thermometer and magnetic compass, by Bianchi, English, 2/2 19th Century
Origin
England; Kent; Tunbridge Wells
Maker
Bianchi
Class
meteorology; thermometry
Earliest Date
1855
Latest Date
1877
Inscription Date
Material
ivory; wood (several types); glass; metal (mercury, steel, brass); paper
Dimensions
height 129mm; base diameter 91mm
Special Collection
Robert Whipple collection
Provenance
Purchased from T. H. Court on 05/03/1929.
Inscription
‘Bianchi
Tunbridge Wells’ (top of thermometer scale)
Description Notes
A round-bulb mercury-in-glass thermometer. Octagonal wooden pillar on circular wooden base, with turned wooden circular top. Four sides of pillar and top filled with marquetry (‘Tunbridge ware’). Mercury-in-glass thermometer fixed to ivory scale set into one face of the pillar. Two scales, one for Fahrenheit and one for Reaumur. Fahrenheit scale divided 10 - 130, numbered by 10, subdivided to 2. Reaumur scale divided [-]10 - 0 - [44], numbered by 10, subdivided to 2. Various points are marked: ‘freezing’, ‘sumr heat’, ‘blood heat’ and ‘fever heat’. Compass set into top with paper scale and glass cover. 32-point compass rose with 16 points marked by initial; fleur-de-lys for North. Degree scale divided 0 - 90 - 0 - 90 - 0, numbered by 10, subdivided to 2. Blued steel needle on brass pin; open diamond to mark North.
Condition good; complete.
References
Events
Description
A compendium is the name given to a small, often decorative, holder for more than one instrument. This desk-top ornament consists of a marquetry pillar bearing a mercury thermometer graduated with Fahrenheit and Réaumur scales, with a magnetic compass on the top. Inscribed at the top of the thermometer plate is the maker’s name, ‘Bianchi, Tunbridge Wells’. Bianchi was active there in 1855-77.
The instrument maker Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686-1736) spent many years perfecting thermometers. The Fahrenheit scale takes 32 as the freezing point and 212 as the boiling point of water.
The French scientist Réné-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur (1683-1757) took different values for his thermometer scales. After his death the Réaumur scale was generally taken as 0 for freezing and 80 for the boiling point of water.
26/03/2008
Created by: Dr. Anita McConnell on 26/03/2008
FM:43449
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