Bourdon Gauge

Here's one of my prized posessions, my wife bought it for me, for £5 at a boot sale.

Neil

Could She do some shopping for me? Wonderful condition, have you any idea how old it is?

Frank

Hi Frank,

I asked her to get me a cheap barometer. She brought home three working aneroid movements, a box of spares, the movement from a BIG pressure gauge and the above.

The dial is all hand lettered and the glass is distinctly wavy (i.e. not float glass). Figures scratched inside look to be in a French hand, and it appears to have come from M. Bourdon's own factory. It's obviously been well polished, I guess it used to live in a lab, test-room or similar and someone liberated it and put it on the mahogany base rather than see it scrapped.

I'd like to think its late 19th century, google doesn't help much

Neil

What a nice Lady !!

MichaelG.

.

P.S. I can't find it in Espacenet, but the Wikipedia page mentions Patented in France in 1849.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 14/02/2013 23:15:22

The Wikipedia article says "But in 1875 after Bourdon's patents expired,"

As it's marked "E. BOURDON'S PATENT" that suggests it may predate 1875.

Joey

P.S. If had one of those I'd have it in on the living room wall!

Edited By Joseph Ramon on 15/02/2013 12:41:03

Edited By Joseph Ramon on 15/02/2013 12:43:59

nice gauge you have, with vacuum too, more akin to a scientific instrument than a boiler gauge. I have one, a boiler gauge, and I use it regularly, a faithful Instrument...not only a mantlepiece curiosity.

Cheers

**LINK**

We're getting a little closer to that elusive Patent

MichaelG.

.

But, this device for operating Stop Cocks s the earliest I have found in our hero's name.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 16/02/2013 02:40:29

Just before, or there abouts the time when Dave C took over at Model Engineer, I sent in an artical from the "English Mechanic and Mirror of Science" vol VII no., 180 Fri, Sept 4 1868. Bourdons Improved steam or compressed air engine".

I have an interesting barometer, bought back from Europe after WW1 by my grandfather, it was made by Bourdon, and of course has a Bourdon tube to activate the movement, fortunately it survived the shake up, unlike some othe fairly valuable orniments that gandpa bought back, he must have had more than a kit bag on his return trip.

ps the artical about the motor has a large etching of it that formed the cover picture af the magazine.

Ian S C

Hi Gedeon - I'm sure it is meant for lab/testroom use not boiler use. It is wonderfully sensitive.

Hi Michael - no exact hits for "E.bourdon" "compound gauge"

Hi Ian, I remember you bourdon tube engine, I thought it was most ingennious and close runner up in the simplest-prime-mover-competition.

Does your grandfather's barometer have the same maker's mark as my compound gauge?

Neil

The Barometer is labled "Made in France" Metalic Barometer. It has a serial no 20335. Does not actually say its made by Bourdon. Although much finer than on your meter, the hand is to the same pattern, ie the shape of the arrow head, and the shape at the other end. I may have a pic on the computor somewhere, I'll see. Ian S C

Here we are, found it, bought back to NZ by my Grandfather after WW1, it seems quite sensitive, matching it with a mercury barometer that I have. Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 11/03/2013 14:36:25

Very nice! The movement is very delicate.

I like 'set fair' and 'much rain'.

Neil