LOOK CLOSE THIS ONE IS A BIT DIFFERENT

Here is a rather different antique mercury wheel barometer , that is going to need alot of restoration . First it was painted and lost its thermometer a long time ago as paint is very worn and old but can see remains of original finish under the dial . Someone also covered up its unique quality as having another two dials if you look at pictures can see what was covered , if look at back can see it did have more pieces to run other dials . The tag that is inside says Bernard Goldstein 16? 59th St. New York Clockmaker . The other paper was inside and looks like been there awhile . Hopefully someone has information on this maker .
I was hoping to put here on line to see if anyone else has something similar as would like to restore it to its former glory , would like to know what the idea was of the other dials as they seem to read the same thing . The main dial measures 10 inches and overall is 40 x 12.5 inches . The only multi dial barometer I have seen have been in books and none quite like this , perhaps that is what the patent refers to? If you have any comments or ideas give me an e-mail I would like to solve this mystery .
Thanks Brian

FOOT NOTE : I have been reading the various replies to my emails and come up with a few thoughts . The first thing that strikes me , I have only seen a few wheel barometers of this style , but some of these people have seen thousands and so far no one has seen one like it . When I first started looking for information I thought this might be rare but never thought would be this uncommon . As far as value really does not matter as I am not going to sell it , I just want to restore it the way it was at one time . I am hoping that if I keep looking sooner or later someone must have seen another and have more information . I have started restoration have a look at very bottom of page .

To make this interesting I will post replies to my inquiries and a link to their web site :
I must also thank everyone for taking the time to reply !

Hello
Brian I am quite sure you got a unique and rare barometer, I have never seen one like it, and I am certain that it is a very expensive one if you can get it fixed, so I se you have some work to do, but it is definitely worth the effort. I will estimate this barometer in good working condition, would reach at least reach $2000 Us on auction (Christie's or Sotheby's in London), so I think you are lucky.
Leif
http://www.udlejre.dk
Comment : Antiques from Denmark

Hello Brian,
I am intrigued by your barometer and will keep in touch to find out more. I have no idea what the extra dials are for. However, there is a picture of an earlier barometer with a similar small round dial inset in Nicholas Goodisons' book page 105. Sadly he also had no idea what it was for and comments that it was inoperative when he saw it. Meanwhile, if you have not already done so, I suggest you contact these sites------- http://www.barometerworld.com/ http://www.russell-scientific.co.uk/website.htm I will visit your site from time to time to see what you may discover.
Best of luck, Rod Fryatt
www.lowestoftclocks.co.uk
Comment : Repairs from the UK.

Hello Brian,
I can't be of much help on the function of the 2 scales on the dial, They seem a bit pointless to me, unless one is for reading sea level. Although not conclusive, the engraving on them appears to be different to the main dial ( and on the circular one, inferior) so maybe added later? I can supply the tube (without mercury, the cost of shipping is prohibitive) & the thermo.
Kind Regards, Peter Hanson
quicksilver-barometers.co.uk
Comment : I think all the dials are original as engraving does not over lap
but I think also all the dials are tied to set knob so read the same value , which makes little sense (see pictures )

Thanks for the e mail pictures of the strange Barometer.
It is totally bizarre. I have been in this business since the 1960's and never seen this before. The guy from New York has totally cobbled the whole thing. The two extra dials are obviously meant to be some form of index, indicator, as they just duplicate the 28 to 31". Why it should have a dial a well as a slot scale, who knows! How they would work from the back is also a mystery, and presumably runs off some pulley wheel on the brass plate that goes off at the angle. I have to say if it was mine, I would leave the main dial to work as per normal, by fitting a brass index on a pulley to work from the center (as per normal) leaving the extra dials empty as curiosities. Whether you would wish to fit a new Thermometer box complete to fit on the painted case, I would have to say I probably would not bother. It is quite pretty as it is. This might not be much help. Let me know if we can do anything more to advise.
Yours
Derek Rayment Derek & Tina Rayment Antiques
www.antique-barometers.com
Comment: Yes I think the same thing all the dials were tied together as there is a post to mount another pulley on the end of triangle , but makes little sense to do so , it is painted but under is a shiny finish mahogany that is covered up , I think would like to get it back to original again , so will probably refinish and put thermometer on again , but giving alot of thought and in no hurry . Would rather have an old thermometer to put on but not very easy to find .

Well As I have not seen it I can not suggest anyone to ask - other than the thousands of collectors and dealers out in the world. It appears not to be a very good barometer especially but a very strange one! They are always more troublesome to find out about - if at all. The very design and age is the starting point, no books cover the subject of this one so its probably down to a few years searching around auction catalogues and every museum around incase they have seen one, Very daunting - even for us! We do not have any budget to finance free research for people - what a wonderful thought if we could do that - We subsidize the collection we have here every year as it is.
Regards, Philip Collins
Barometer World Ltd
antiquebarometers.org.uk
Comment : Well here i am asking asking the thousands of collectors and dealers around the world , what is this thing ?
I am doing this as a hobby for fun , so hope someone out there has some more ideas , and willing to say what they know , i assumed that someone that has seen thousands of barometers would know more than I .

Hi Brian,
Had a look at the photos. Very unusual, I would recommend that you contact Phil Collins at Barometer World (as suggested by someone else on your website) If anyone is going to know about this barometer he will. We have certainly never seen anything like this before, as you say the reason for having the same reading three times is very strange. Good luck!!
Chris Oxley.
paoxley.com
Comment : Thanks for help , as you see i got reply from Philip above .

Try Rita Shenton Books on a search engine and phone her for a book on barometers .
Mark
gutlin.com
Comment : Thanks will check it out .

Thanks for your email.
What an unusual scale - fascinating - who is the maker? Could it be by Russell of Falkirk?
Regards Edward Allen
Managing Director
russell-scientific.co.uk
Comment : First person to mention a maker , i can find no sign of any maker on dial , just the name on stamp inside , did the Americans make any barometers that looked like this ? Is it possible it is from America as alot of items i see from Europe are wood worm damaged at this age and this has none at all .

You certainly have a very unusual barometer. There is no room for a thermometer because of the carving on the space where a thermometer would usually go. The openings on the dial have numbers on them that indicate barometric readings. Is there some mechanism to operate from the back of the dial? I can supply a tube but it would have to be sent empty. I can supply the equipment to fill it and instructions , Can you get the Mercury? The unit is Victorian probably 1850 or 60 Any indication of a makers name?
Neville
The tube would be about $200.00 US including shipping .
www.barometershop.net US
Comment : Yes i thought same thing when saw pictures , however the carvings are just paint added a long time ago , and there is a small sign of holes were a thermometer was will know more when paint removed .
The triangle piece of brass has a post , but no pulley , or dial left but can see how did work at one time . And yes I have mercury and fill system .
The center wheel and pulley and hands are complete .

Hi Brian,
I've just viewed the images of your intriguing barometer, and certainly can echo the thoughts of the Great and the Good in the barometer arena. On the likely assumption that it is a UK Registered Design I suggest that you try the UK Public Records Office, who store [in Kew, London] a comprehensive list of designs registered under the 1842/3 Design Act [Public Record Office | Research | Introduction] Look under 'Registered Designs and Trade Marks' within the >LEAFLETS section on this page As the PRO don't carryout research themselves, you could try one of the independent researchers who could do the archive trawling for you [for a fee !] They are listed from this page. [>INDEPENDENT RESEARCHERS] Sorry I can't be of specific help but good luck with your efforts.
Very best wishes,
Alan Walker
http://alanwalker-barometers.com/
Comment : Great help did not find this myself , the numbers are on dial , however so far search not find much , as having hard time to use .
Will keep trying when have more time , will post any results .
There is a picture of numbers if anyone knows how to use the system better than myself .

Dear Brian,
I fear we are unable to help you with this one. Barometer World - www.barometerworld.co.uk may be able to help Best of luck, The Barometer Shop
www.barometershop.net
Comment : Thanks have emailed as well .

Hi Brian
Just a quick e-mail to let you know that no i have not seen one like that but it is not hard to work out what and how someone has done with this barometer i think. The counter balance weight would have had a pointer attached to the cord to slide along,then go round a pully then down to another pully with a indicating hand for the small barometer scale, I have done engineering most of my life and my mind is telling me that this is one possibilty of how this will work. I would make you up a drawing of what i have in mind if you are interested just let me know, it is some times hard to see all of it my mind unless i have it in my hand to see with my own eyes how the item was made but years of working with them and seeing what and how smart some people in the past were does not supprise me at all with anyting that turns up . It is a very nice barometer and well worth the effort to restore. Good luck nice to hear from you. Regards Colin Stuart. Swansea.
N.S.W. Australia.
Comment : The more I look at this barometer , I have come up with an idea how the dials are used , I think the regular set knob moved the normal set hand on main dial , however perhaps the set control has been altered in that it had another second knob that adjusted the other 2 dials at same time to show morning and night levels , from center and outside knobs . If it had just 2 dials would make sense , but 3 still not sure .

The start of restoration process :

This was a real nice flame mahogany under the paint , not much done yet but have too many clocks to repair and not enough time for my own projects .
Had to take out few dents and fill and repair here and there but overall not too bad shape , when get more time will make a thermometer housing and get scale and tubes . Just wanted to post to show the large difference in appearance . Like to wait few weeks for oil paint to dry ( I use to color match repairs ) then will shine up some more .
Has a rather nice color and grain can not see why anyone would paint .