A very rare mahogany cased aneroid barocyclonometer or
A very rare mahogany cased aneroid barocyclonometer or 'Typhoon Barometer' Retailed by Lawrence and Mayo, Calcutta, after a design by Jose Algue, Manilla, early to mid 20th century The box opening to reveal Faura pattern aneroid barometer with 7 inch circular silvered register calibrated in both barometric inches and millibars and inscribed LAWRENCE & MAY, CALCUTTA, 596 over curved Fahrenheit and Centigrade scale mercury thermometer to centre, within adjustable outer scale annotated for the Northern hemisphere with latitudes 0-25 opposing 25-32 grouped with appropriate pressure readings for different seasons to the lower half, the upper half annotated with typhoon predictions, the whole set behind glazed bezel with silvered angled fillet insert and attached to the outer scale to allow adjustment by turning the bezel assembly , the lid of the box applied to the inside with the remains of a patinated brass and glass Cyclometer with fragmented original central translucent circular plate inscribed with direction arrows beneath two pointers, one engraved with scale 0-100 the other with pivoted direction indicator, the whole rotating within a ring annotated with the points of the compass, the exterior of the box with shaped brass nameplate engraved M.C.P. to top and visible dovetail joints to corners, (in original unrestored condition with distressed Cyclometer), 27cm (10.5ins approx.) wide. Very little is known about the origins of the firm Lawrence and Mayo other than the fact that they were originally London based and expanded to set-up branches throughout the British Empire during the second half of the 19th century. The Calcutta branch is thought to have opened in 1877 and is still trading today as an independent Indian enterprise specialising in the supply optical scientific and surveying instruments. The design of the current lot was the culmination of the efforts of two successive Jesuit Priest directors of the Manilla Observatory, Federico Faura and Jose Algue. The problem of predicting destructive typhoons, which took dozens of lives each year in the Phillipines, led to Faura's research and eventual publication of his paper Senales precursoras de un temporal in 1882. He then went onto develop the úura' pattern barometer which through use of a carefully devised scale could predict with a fair degree of accuracy the proximity of a typhoon. Jose Algue, who succeeded Faura in 1897, undertook further research to devise a method of forecasting the direction from which a typhoon would approach. This led to the development of his 'cyclonometer' or 'wind disc'. The incorporation of both instruments into one unit was termed a ºroclclonometer', examples of which were utilised throughout the Phillipines saving countless lives during the opening years of the 20th century. In 1912 Jose Algue was invited by the U.S. government to devise a version of his tried and tested barocylonometer for use in the Northern hemisphere in order to assist in the prediction of Hurricanes and Atlantic storms. In August 1912 he visited New York and Washington where it was agreed that a model calibrated for the Northern hemisphere would be made in Germany for trial onboard Connecticut flagship of Rear Admiral Osterhaus -commander of the Atlantic Squadron for U.S. Navy. By January 1913 Algue was in London where discussions regarding the production of further models in London took place. An account of his visit to New York was published in The New York Times August 18th 1912, and a review of the instrument was published in Popular Mechanics January 1913 issue. A related instrument by Schmidt and Zeigler of Remscheid (probably from the very early series of German made models as specified for the order for the U.S. Navy) was sold in these rooms on Wednesday 16th February 2011 (lot 26) for £1,300 hammer.
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A very rare mahogany cased aneroid barocyclonometer or 'Typhoon Barometer' Retailed by Lawrence and Mayo, Calcutta, after a design by Jose Algue, Manilla, early to mid 20th century The box opening to reveal Faura pattern aneroid barometer with 7 inch circular silvered register calibrated in both barometric inches and millibars and inscribed LAWRENCE & MAY, CALCUTTA, 596 over curved Fahrenheit and Centigrade scale mercury thermometer to centre, within adjustable outer scale annotated for the Northern hemisphere with latitudes 0-25 opposing 25-32 grouped with appropriate pressure readings for different seasons to the lower half, the upper half annotated with typhoon predictions, the whole set behind glazed bezel with silvered angled fillet insert and attached to the outer scale to allow adjustment by turning the bezel assembly , the lid of the box applied to the inside with the remains of a patinated brass and glass Cyclometer with fragmented original central translucent circular plate inscribed with direction arrows beneath two pointers, one engraved with scale 0-100 the other with pivoted direction indicator, the whole rotating within a ring annotated with the points of the compass, the exterior of the box with shaped brass nameplate engraved M.C.P. to top and visible dovetail joints to corners, (in original unrestored condition with distressed Cyclometer), 27cm (10.5ins approx.) wide. Very little is known about the origins of the firm Lawrence and Mayo other than the fact that they were originally London based and expanded to set-up branches throughout the British Empire during the second half of the 19th century. The Calcutta branch is thought to have opened in 1877 and is still trading today as an independent Indian enterprise specialising in the supply optical scientific and surveying instruments. The design of the current lot was the culmination of the efforts of two successive Jesuit Priest directors of the Manilla Observatory, Federico Faura and Jose Algue. The problem of predicting destructive typhoons, which took dozens of lives each year in the Phillipines, led to Faura's research and eventual publication of his paper Senales precursoras de un temporal in 1882. He then went onto develop the úura' pattern barometer which through use of a carefully devised scale could predict with a fair degree of accuracy the proximity of a typhoon. Jose Algue, who succeeded Faura in 1897, undertook further research to devise a method of forecasting the direction from which a typhoon would approach. This led to the development of his 'cyclonometer' or 'wind disc'. The incorporation of both instruments into one unit was termed a ºroclclonometer', examples of which were utilised throughout the Phillipines saving countless lives during the opening years of the 20th century. In 1912 Jose Algue was invited by the U.S. government to devise a version of his tried and tested barocylonometer for use in the Northern hemisphere in order to assist in the prediction of Hurricanes and Atlantic storms. In August 1912 he visited New York and Washington where it was agreed that a model calibrated for the Northern hemisphere would be made in Germany for trial onboard Connecticut flagship of Rear Admiral Osterhaus -commander of the Atlantic Squadron for U.S. Navy. By January 1913 Algue was in London where discussions regarding the production of further models in London took place. An account of his visit to New York was published in The New York Times August 18th 1912, and a review of the instrument was published in Popular Mechanics January 1913 issue. A related instrument by Schmidt and Zeigler of Remscheid (probably from the very early series of German made models as specified for the order for the U.S. Navy) was sold in these rooms on Wednesday 16th February 2011 (lot 26) for £1,300 hammer.
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