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T156-25

Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer
Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer

Tourist set featuring an orographic barometer

Manufacturer or Retailer

Manufacturer or Retailer

Jules Richard, Paris
Serial Number

Serial Number

n/a

Dating

Dating

1900-1910

Condition

Condition

FAIR

Movement (Tube) Type

Movement (Tube) Type

coil spring Richard

Dimensions

Dimensions

  • length: 16 cm
  • width: 11.5 cm
Materials

Materials

glass, leather, nickel silver, silvered brass

Object Overview

This late 19th-century tourist set featuring an orographic barometer, crafted by the renowned precision instrument maker Jules Richard, consists of a small barometer, thermometer, and compass, all mounted on a silver-plated brass plate and housed in an elegant case about the size of a porte-cigarette.

The wooden case is covered in kid leather and lined inside with burgundy silk satin fabric. It is secured with a simple brass latch that holds the lid in place.

Barometer

The barometer’s case is made of nickel-plated brass and features a bayonet mount connecting it to the mounting plate. The barometer is protected by a flat, faceted-edge glass set into a wide, fluted bezel. Inside the rotating bezel, an altitude scale is engraved on a silver-plated brass frame. This altitude scale is calibrated in meters, with a maximum range of 5000 meters.

The dial itself, also crafted from silver-plated brass, presents a concentric barometric scale calibrated in centimeters of mercury, ranging from 46 to 80 cm. Instead of standard weather inscriptions, the dial simply indicates two directions: to the left — pluie (rain), and to the right — beau (fair), a typical feature of orographic barometers, allowing use in different regions without recalibration. Additionally, the dial features the brand logo and a mark indicating the barometer’s temperature-compensated ( movement.

At the heart of the barometer operates a crank and connecting rod movement, featuring a brass rack, gear, and external helical spring.

Compass

The compass case is made of nickel-plated brass and protected by thick, slightly domed faceted glass. The base of the case doubles as the dial — a black enameled plate with cardinal points (N, S, E, O) and intermediate points (NE, SE, SO, NO) marked in gold lettering in French.

Just above the dial is a concentric degree scale, engraved on a silver-plated brass ring. The scale is divided into 360°, allowing for precise azimuthal orientation.

The compass needle is a classic bar pattern needle — flat and elongated, with a wire wound around the north end, as found in more sensitive compass models. At the center of the needle is a neatly executed opening fitted with a miniature brass cap containing a ruby pivot. The ruby serves as a low-friction bearing for free and stable needle rotation. The needle is mounted onto a sharp vertical pin that rises from the center of the dial.

When not in use, the needle is locked by a mechanical stopper, operated via a knurled nickel-plated knob located next to the compass on the mounting plate. Turning the knob gently engages a hidden lever that presses the needle down, preventing it from moving during transport — thereby protecting both the needle and the ruby pivot from damage.

Thermometer

Mounted at the top of the brass plate is a mercury thermometer with a rounded bulb reservoir. The thermometer scales are engraved directly onto the mounting base, featuring a centigrade scale and a Réaumur scale.

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