Accession No

2303

Brief Description

Sikes hydrometer, by L. Lumley and Company Ltd., English, 1/2 19th Century

Origin

England; London; 1 America Square

Maker

L. Lumley and Company Ltd.

Class

physics; metrology

Earliest Date

1800

Latest Date

1850

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, steel, mercury, gilt copper, white metal); ivory; wood (mahogany); cloth (silk, velvet); rope (string)

Dimensions

hydrometer length 174mm; maximum diameter 38mm thermometer length 226mm; breadth 25mm; thickness 17mm slide rule length 226mm; breadth 35mm; thickness 6mm box length 250mm; breadth 120mm; height 54mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Donated by E. Whipple, 18/4/1977.

Inscription

‘L. LUMLEY & CO. LTD LONDON P’ (one side of spindle)
‘NO. 3661 SIKES P51˚’ (other side of spindle)
‘L. LUMLEY & CO LTD LONDON’ (thermometer)
‘L. LUMLEY & CO. LTD. MAKERS 1 AMERICA SQUARE LONDON.’ (edge of both rules)
‘Sikes Hydrometer
L. LUMLEY & CO. LTD.
1. AMERICA SQ.
LONDON’ (lid of box)

Description Notes

Brass Sikes’ hydrometer with spherical float and ovoid counterweight; spindle with scale on both sides, divided 0 - 10, numbered by 1, subdivided to 0.2. Nine weights marked ‘L’ and with serial number and weight (10 - 90); top weight.
Round-bulb mercury-in-glass thermometer on ivory scale; scale divided [25] - [99]˚F, numbered by 10˚, subdivided to 1˚.
Two ivory slide rules bound in white metal.
1). obverse: upper part of stock marked ‘A’ divided 6 - 30, numbered by 1, divisions variable. Slide marked ‘under proof’ at LHS, divided 70 - PROOF - 70, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1. Lower part of stock marked ‘B’ divided [1 7/12] - 8, numbered by 1, subdivided to 1/12. Reverse: all scales marked ‘C’. Upper part of stock divided 60 - 300, numbered 60, 70...200, 250, 300, divisions variable. Slide divided as on other side. Lower part of stock divided 100 - 20, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1.
2). Obverse: upper part of stock marked ‘over proof’, divided [26] - [54], numbered by 5, subdivided to 0.2. Slide has two scales: first divided [16] - [42], numbered by 5, subdivided to 0.2; second divided [34.6] - [59], numbered by 5, subdivided to 0.2. Lower part of stock divided [2] - [33], numbered by 5, subdivided to 0.2. Reverse: upper part of stock divided 25 - PROOF - 10, numbered by 5, subdivided to 0.2; marked ‘under proof’ on RHS. Slide has two scales: first divided [52.4] - [74.6], numbered by 5, subdivided to 0.2; second divided [69] - [78], numbered by 5, subdivided to 0.2. Lower part of stock has two scales: ‘thermometer scale’ divided 30 - 80, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1; second scale divided [21] - [33], numbered by 5, subdivided to 0.2.
In fitted mahogany box with brass hinges and hook fasteners; lined with purple silk and velvet.

Condition good; complete.

References

Events