horizontal maximum thermometer on wooden frame
Datecirca 1885
Inventory Number1998-1-1279a
ClassificationThermometer
Subject
Maker
James J. Hicks
fl. 1874 - 1952
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions3.4 x 33.5 x 6.1 cm (1 5/16 x 13 3/16 x 2 3/8 in.)
storage: 8.3 x 50 x 8.3 cm (3 1/4 x 19 11/16 x 3 1/4 in.)
storage: 8.3 x 50 x 8.3 cm (3 1/4 x 19 11/16 x 3 1/4 in.)
Material
DescriptionA thermometer consisting of a glass tube with a mercury capillary, held horizontally on a wooden plate with the mercury bulb hanging at a 45 degree angle downwards. Its scale is in Fahrenheit degrees from -30 to 145.
Signedon the thermometer face: J. HICKS 8,9, & 10 HATTON GARDEN, LONDON
Inscribedon the thermometer face: MAXIMUM
by signature: VERIFIED 252135
on tube: KI [or RI] 45981
Curatorial RemarksStored with 1998-1-1279b.
FunctionThis is a thermometer used to determine the highest temperature of air over a certain period of time.
It works by having a very narrow neck through which the mercury has to push through when it is expanding out of the bulb. As the temperature rises, the mercury flows into the almost horizontal section of the tube, but if the temperature falls, the pressure exerted by the mercury on the capillary due to its weight is not enough to push it through. In order to reset the thermometer, one has to incline it to be vertical, and perhaps shake towards the bulb.
It works by having a very narrow neck through which the mercury has to push through when it is expanding out of the bulb. As the temperature rises, the mercury flows into the almost horizontal section of the tube, but if the temperature falls, the pressure exerted by the mercury on the capillary due to its weight is not enough to push it through. In order to reset the thermometer, one has to incline it to be vertical, and perhaps shake towards the bulb.
James J. Hicks
Date: circa 1885
Object number: 1998-1-1279b
Henry J. Green
Date: 1890-1910
Accessories: cardboard box
Object number: 1998-1-1271a
Taylor Instrument Companies
Date: 1910-1930
Object number: 1998-1-1410
