Accession No

1476

Brief Description

Sikes hydrometer, by Thomson (hydrometer) and Loftus and Shimeild (thermometer), English, mid-19th Century

Origin

England; London

Maker

Thomson [hydrometer] Loftus and Shimeild [thermometer]

Class

physics; metrology

Earliest Date

1840

Latest Date

1870

Inscription Date

Material

metal (brass, mercury); ivory; wood (boxwood, mahogany and one other), cloth (velvet, silk); glass; rope (cord)

Dimensions

hydrometer length 170mm; maximum diameter 37mm slide rule length 225mm; breadth 33mm; thickness 5mm thermometer length 222mm; breadth 20mm; thickness 12mm box length 245mm; breadth 114mm; height 52mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Donated in 10/12/1970.

Inscription

‘W.R. Loftus LD
London.W.’ (front of thermometer)
‘J. Shimeild 148 Southgate RD N’ (back of thermometer)
‘SIKES’S HYDROMETER
R THOMSON
28 Gt Russell St
LONDON’ (inlaid in lid of box)
‘23124 SIKES P 51˚’

Description Notes

Brass Sikes hydrometer with complete set of weights. Hydrometer scale divided 0 - 10 on both faces, numbered by 1, subdivided to 0.2. Weights marked with serial number. Mercury-in-glass thermometer on ivory scale. Front of scale divided 30 - 100, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1. Back of scale divided [20] - [105], numbered by 10, subdivided to 1. This scale does not match that on the front (equal at approx 83˚).
Slide rule in boxwood bound in brass. Obverse: upper part of stock has scale divided 6 - 30, numbered by 1. Slide has scale divided 70 - [0] PROOF - 70, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1. Lower part of stock has scale divided [1 8/12] - 8, numbered by 1, subdivided to 1/12. Reverse: upper part of stock has scale divided 60 - 300, numbered 60, 70...200, 250, 300. Slide has scale divided 70 - [0] PROOF - 70, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1. Lower part of stock has scale divided 20 - 100, numbered by 10, subdivided to 1.
Fitted mahogany case with brass hinges and hook fasteners. Lined with cherry silk and purple velvet.

Condition good; complete.

References

Events