Accession No

2306

Brief Description

Dicas type hydrometer, by Gammage, English, 1825 (c)

Origin

Liverpool; England

Maker

Gammage

Class

physics; metrology

Earliest Date

1825

Latest Date

1825

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, white metal); ivory; wood (three types); cloth (velvet)

Dimensions

hydrometer length 162mm; maximum diameter 35mm proof rule length 187mm; breadth 36mm; thickness 5mm box length 226mm; breadth 143mm; height 48mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Christie's, London, England, lot 68, 30/03/1977.

Inscription

‘A DICAS PATENTEE’ (hydrometer)
‘GAMMAGE LATE DICAS PATENTEE LIVERPOOL’ (obverse)
‘GAMMAGE
LATE DICAS PATENTEE
LIVERPOOL
5599’ (lid of box)

Description Notes

Gilt brass Dicas type hydrometer with ovoid float and conical counterweight. Scale on upper spindle divided 0 - 10 on both sides, numbered by 1. Fixed collar marked ‘360’. 32 separate weighted tokens (of 36), numbered 0 to 350 by 10; each stamped ‘5599’ and ‘I.D.’ (290, 330, 340 and 350 missing; pegs which would have held missing weights are also missing).
Ivory proof rule. Obverse: upper part of stock has proof scales for Dicas and Sikes calibrations running from upper part of stock to lower; one divided 100 - [85] on upper part, numbered by 10, subdivided to 5; the other divided 100 -80 on upper part, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1; these scales continue on lower stock, divided [83] - PROOF - [9] and [84] - PROOF - [8], both numbered by 10, subdivided to 1.
Slide has thermometer scale divided 30˚ - 80˚F, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1; also split scale divided 0 - [28] and [22] - 160, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1.
Reverse: upper part of stock has proof scales for Dicas and Sikes types. Each divided 20 - PROOF [0] - [27], numbered by 10, subdivided to 1. Slide has upper scale divided 30 - 80 and 100 - 210, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1; lower scale divided [184] - 370, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1. Lower part of stock has two scales; first divided 20 - [67], numbered by 10, subdivided to 1; lower divided 20 - 60, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1. ‘Alcohol’ marked at 66 1/2; ‘SW’ marked at 60 1/2. The slide is raised above the stock and is two separate slips screwed together through slots in the stock which limit the travel.
Fitted wooden box, lined with blue velvet, with pins to hold the weights in place (four missing). Brass hinges and lock; white metal key. Damage to front of lock.

Condition good; incomplete (four weights missing)

References

Events