Simon Willard Jr. Barometer, mounted on gimbals, rosewood veneer.

Nautical mercury barometer, signed: "S. Willard Boston" under the glass at the top of the barometric scale. It features mahogany veneer body and brass mercury container. The height is about 36 inches. The instrument is mounted in a gimballed wall bracket, a common type of mounting on shipboard to keep the instrument vertical when the ship rolled and pitched. Barometric pressure from 27 to 31 (with additional small scale of 10) marked Fair, Change, Rain, Stormy. Thermometer built-in under, calibrated in Fahrenheit.

S. Willard Jr. operated a retail shop on Congress st in Boston, catering to the shipping industry selling marine chronometers and other nautical instruments. This item was probably retailed by Simon Willard and may be of English origin.

1802.03 Click on the Detail image to see a larger view.