black bulb thermometer
Date1880-1900
Inventory Number1998-1-1273
ClassificationThermometer
Subject
Maker
James J. Hicks
fl. 1874 - 1952
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions7 x 45 x 7 cm (2 3/4 x 17 11/16 x 2 3/4 in.)
storage: 10 x 46 x 10 cm (3 15/16 x 18 1/8 x 3 15/16 in.)
storage: 10 x 46 x 10 cm (3 15/16 x 18 1/8 x 3 15/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionA thermometer consisting of a thin glass tube with a capillary that has a scale. Its mercury bulb is painted completely black and is in the shape of a sphere at the end of a cylindrical stem, also painted in black. The whole thermometer is kept inside a clear glass vessel with a large spherical bulb surrounding the thermometer's mercury bulb such that it is exactly at its center, and which has two narrow necks: one right before the bulb, and another near the top end of the thermometer.
Signedon the thermometer: J. Hicks, 8 Hatton Garden, London
FunctionThis is a thermometer for determining the amount of heat radiation (infrared light) in the environment at a certain moment. Its mercury bulb is isolated from contact with the ambient temperature by an evacuated glass vessel, and it is painted completely black so it will absorb the maximum possible heat radiation.
Heat radiation is an important meteorological reading as an indication of cloudiness and contributes to the subjective perception of ambient temperature in addition to the temperature of air.
Heat radiation is an important meteorological reading as an indication of cloudiness and contributes to the subjective perception of ambient temperature in addition to the temperature of air.
James J. Hicks
Date: circa 1885
Object number: 1998-1-1279b
James J. Hicks
Date: circa 1885
Object number: 1998-1-1279a
Henry J. Green
Date: 1890-1910
Accessories: cardboard box
Object number: 1998-1-1271b
Alvergniat Frères
Date: circa 1890
Accessories: inside an old wooden box with space for two thermometers of this kind, but with only this one present. Other contents and inscriptions of box described in Inscriptions.
Object number: 1998-1-0420
Henry J. Green
Date: 1890-1910
Accessories: cardboard box
Object number: 1998-1-1271a
Taylor Instrument Companies
Date: circa 1930
Accessories: chart "RELATIVE HUMIDITY" in holder stored in file folder
Object number: 1998-1-0285