Bourdon Gauge

Just to keep this moving on a bit (alright, I'm laid up at the moment with a bit of time to spare) ....

A quick search in 'Graces Guide' leads to Negretti and Zambra (founded 1850). Although your gauge does not look like one of their manufacture, there is a loose connection with Negretti and Zambra as one of their adverts (1880) shows a Bourdon Trade mark stamp similar to that on the casing of your pressure gauge ... **LINK**

You can download a rather large google PDF file of the Negretti and Zambra's encyclopaedic instrument catalogue, which was published after 1884, maybe circa 1887?. A search for Bourdon in the catalogue shows a few pressure gauge drawings and information at page 205 onwards ... **LINK** The catalogue states that Negretti and Zambra were sole agents for the Bourdon Gauge (whatever that means). I must admit I thought your gauge was a refurb/fake due to the pristine face. If the Negretti catalogue is to be believed, it states it is genuine if it has the Bourdon stamp on it. The catalogue states that if the instrument does not bear the E Bourdon trade mark, then it is not of the M Bourdon manufacture, which I do not understand?

Not that I know anything about patents and licences and how they work, maybe Negretti Zambra acquired the UK Licence sometime before the patent expired (in 1875?). Re an earlier posting: one online locomotive book states that Ashcroft acquired the American 'Licence' after a visit to the 1851 Paris Great Exhibition (Bourdon is not listed in the participants at that event).

Other thoughts I'll throw in the pot. The rather fine looking font on the gauge looks French (the typography is similar to the French Didot Linotype). Your font looks like it is matches that on the ebay gauge I linked to earlier. The English wording Compound Gauge makes me think it was not for the French market?

I'd be interested to see what the experts come up with.

Steve

Thanks Steve,

I'm sure its genuine Bourdon. The printed stamp on the dial is also impressed on the case.

M. Bourdon just means Monsieur Bourdon.

I'm increasingly optimistic that it is a genuine 19 th century example.

Neil

Bourdon did take part in the 1868 or there abouts, one exhibit was his "Improved steam, or compressed air engine, This engine connects a crankshaft to a Bourdon tube, the crankshaft is fitted with a substantial flywheel.

A number of years ago I sent an article to Dave Clarke, it must be deep in the ME archives.

Ian S C

Hi Neil

I'll blow the dust off this one again. I few weeks ago I was thumbing through a digital back copy of 'The English Mechanic' Vol1 No1 dated March 31st 1865 (as you do). In amongst the adverts on page 12 there is an image of the Bourdon stamp. It looks similar to the stamp on your gauge.

Although this does not date your instrument, you can say the design of your stamp definitely existed in 1865.

The future is digital!

Regards

Steve

PS I hope I am not infringing copyright with these extracts.

Edited By Steven Vine on 16/02/2015 13:38:58

Brilliant. Thanks Steve - I suspect an 1865 magazine is out of copyright!

As it was patented in 1849 and the patent expired in 1875, and the two stamps are apparently genuine I think I can safely assume it is (a) of Bourdon's own manufacture and (b) it probably dates for the 1860s.

Neil

the original patent by Eugène Bourdon for its" tube" and application can be found on the INPI site, base brevets du 19ème siècle.

this a manuscript, hardly readable : 33p of finely hand written text with a few figures, looking really odd.

you can read only, no downloading, but you can order a copy. pretty deceptive!

hope lhe link works ,

http://bases-brevets19e.inpi.fr/Thot/FrmLotDocFrame.asp

Thanks Gedeon,

My french isn't too appalling, but I can't find their 'cherche' box anywhere!

Ah, I need to "acceder aux service"...

Blimey his "pompe alimentaire perfectionnée" of 1937 sounds a bit nasty!

This is the document (you may need to accede to see it): bases-brevets19e.inpi.fr/Thot/FrmLotDocFrame.asp unfortunately my french is only able to pick out odd words from lightly pixelated 19th century handwriting!

Google has the 1852 US patent which is a bit more readable (auto-OCR'd so full of spelling errors!) It confirms he knew it would work for vacuum as well as pressure from the start.

It's interesting that he thought of using it for a governor.

Neil

Steve, if you look up "English Mechanic" vol VII no 180 Friday September 4 1868, you will find Bourdon's improved steam or air engine. Picture on the cover page, article on page 511. Bourdon's engine used a flyball governor.

Ian S C

Just to bookend this thread, Stub has put a little write up on his website.

Neil