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updated - 7th June 2008 AVOID THE NEW MERCURY BAROMETER BAN Due to E.U. legislation the placing on the market for sale of NEW mercury barometers (mostly in the U.K. that means the stick type of barometers that we are famous for making) will be banned from October 2009 - (more info further down this page). That does not effect the use of mercury, or the restoration or sale of old barometers both antique or 2nd hand, just new mercury barometers. If you have thought you would one day like a mercury stick barometer but are not yet ready to purchase one we believe we can help solve one problem. Place a commision for one of our new mercury stick barometers for a £1 non returnable deposit and you will have secured a barometer. The ban is on the placing on the market so if already sold - even if not supplied we can complete the order even after the ban comes into effect. Of course we are not lawyers and you know how devious E.U. can be! - but it does seem to be perfectly legal. We can not guarantee the price for ever of course so the final price will be dependant on labour and materials at the time of manufacturer. Those entrepeneurs amongst you will readily see the possible advantage in cornering such a commodity for the future with such little risk! No limit to the number ordered either. After October 2009 we can not make, advertise and sell new mercury barometers - whether we can sell empty ones for you to fill is yet another possible loop hole, after all an empty mercury barometer case is not a barometer until it has mercury in it!
Barometer World - Eco Champions
When dealing with businesses these days more consumers are becoming aware of the environmental ethics of the companies they buy from, and rightly so. Philip Collins, director of internationally famed Barometer World, has been aware of climate change and the effect of pollution for many years. As a business he tries to incorporate his personal approach to energy use, re-cycling and reducing CO2 effect. When building his current workshop and showroom nearly 20 years ago he installed a 'Kidd' condensing boiler, it still works well and being extra efficient has saved much fuel in its time. Many years ago Barometer World joined the 'Green Electricty Tariff' which although costing more per unit ensures that every unit bought is matched by the supply of equivalent renewable energy to the grid. Philip is quoted as saying. "Being descended from a line of craftsmen and decades of restoring antiques, recycling is a way of life, repair and re use comes naturally to craftsmen, I well remember my Grandfather showing me how to straigten and re-use nails when I was only 9 or 10, I still do, why should we throw away our resources? it makes no sense environmentally or economically" When he and his wife built their bungalow in Merton 15 years ago they installed a solar hot water system, it cost about £1450 then and has well paid for itself and is still working well. In 2006 they installed solar PV electricty generating panels and as you will see if you visit their workshop a 6kWh wind turbine, the first planning application for one in the area and much admired by most visitors also surprisingly quiet. They also threw out their oil boiler and cook and heat their home with logs bought locally using an Esse cooker. Large log piles are very evident in their grounds. "In our business we try and recycle as much as possible, even scraps of wood can be burnt. It does cost more of course, but the world we leave is for our children and grandchildren - why spoil it for them? " Packing barometers and parts is an area they have long been aware of recycling. Waste paper is shredded for use in packing, it makes economic sense as well these days. They even purchase sacks of shredded paper from the local primary school. "I strongly believe in buying locally, we use local plumbers and electrictians as well as Devon suppliers for many of our office items and materials thus supporting local firms and the local economy." The recent extension office and entrance is specially designed with the first commercially produced triple glazed windows (and high insulated doors) to be made in the UK nearby at Barnstaple. The construction is of the thermal mass kind saving energy summer and winter, with untreated natural oak weather boarding supplied by a nearby sawmills. Philip's environmental awareness does not confine itself just to buildings, even outside the garden has been allowed to be more natural and in summer evenings Philip cuts the long Meadow grass (summer home of many insects and small mammals etc) with an old fashioned sycthe. Apparently it is relaxing as well as quiet and the blisters soon disappear!
NEW BOOK - 'FitzRoy and his Barometers' 
LIFE SAVING BAROMETERS Probably the most influential person to leave a mark on that most British of pieces of furniture was Admiral Robert FitzRoy the 1st Chief of the Met Office, famous also for being the Captain taking Charles Darwin aboard HMS Beagle in 1831. In 1854 he became the head of the newly established Meteorological Office in London and soon issued barometers around the coast of Great Britain to aid in the forecast of storms and devised storm warnings to coastal areas which became very popular with local fishermen and coasters. In his lifetime these barometers on public display saved many hundreds of lives, if not thousands and his barometer guide was invaluable in explaining the rising and falling of the barometer. Long after his tragic death in 1865 the barometers and storm warning system he pioneered continued to save lives around the British coasts. In his new book by world renowned barometer specialist Philip Collins of Merton in Devon, the role of FitzRoy & his barometers’ is interestingly explained, with an insight into this fascinating mans life and work. We can thank the current Met Office today for saving even more lives (although we seldom do), FitzRoy’s work continues using modern technology but following basic rules of weather established by FitzRoy himself. Can be ordered online at www.buybarometers.co.uk FitzRoy and his Barometers MERCURY BAN UPDATE For those of you that are following the mercury ban saga, here is a link to the latest legislation. CLICK ON THIS LINK TO EU DIRECTIVE on MERCURY INSTRUMENTS We are still trying to clarify some issues about it so watch this space. GREAT BRITISH BAROMETER FALLS OUT OF FAVOUR! 10th July 2007 Today marked the end of barometer making in Europe after a vote to ban new mecury barometers was accepted in the EU Parliment. There were 352 votes against, and 317 in favour to suceed a total of at least 393 were needed. HERE FOLLOWS SOME INFO FROM EU ABOUT THE BAN Ban on sale of mercury measuring instruments
- MEPs agree two year exemption for barometers The European Parliament approved, at second reading, a ban on non-electrical mercury thermometers and other mercury instruments for general sale to the public, thereby dropping its earlier call for an open-ended derogation for barometer manufacturers and accepting Council's proposal for a two-year exemption instead. The draft directive prohibiting the sale on the EU market of these devices is part of a broad strategy on mercury, a metal which is highly toxic to humans, ecosystems and wildlife.
INFO FROM EU ON MERCURY BAN ENDS HERE IT IS NOT THE OPINION OF DIRECTOR PHILIP COLLINS Cracking nuts with a stick of celery! Attempts by MEP Martin Callanan to place an amendment by the Environment committee to the EU parliment have been thwarted. Therefore the placing on the market of new mercury barometers will be banned 2 years after the legislation is compiled. But worry not, many people have contacted us due to some probable wrongly reported stories about old barometers being banned, as far as we are aware this is not and never has been so. There is also no restrictions planned in the current round of legislation in EU to restrict the use of mercury so you will still be able to buy mercury and build your own barometers, repair your own, store and deal in mercury as much as you like. However the new legislation effectively may see the end of British (and Europes) barometer making industry - already reduced by natural decline to a small select handful of skilled craftsmen. The arguements put forward by Labour MEP Linda McAvan include her belief that the metal element mercury is highly dangerous. Obviously Linda McAvan is wrongly informed, mercury is toxic by accumulation and under the UK Health and Safety guidelines a thresehold of 20 nmols of creatine in urine is considered the upper safe working limits. (this has been reduce from 120 and then to 60 previously but for no accountable reason as there are so few mercury workers to accumalate data from and of course no one in the EU or the UK government have bothered to contact us - why should they, they make the decisions and we just have practicle experience and working knowledge of mercury - the consultants and special advisors have the text book answers - which of course are correct aren't they?) But if you talk to senior dentists that have worked with mercury over many years you can not even see there hands shake - an early indicator of mercury toxicisity. No, the reason why EU wish to reduce mercury is because there is estimated 100's of tons of mercury vapours released into the atmosphere which can turn into Methyl Mercury and this decends onto Europe and is a considerable environmental hazard. So by stopping the less than 30 kilos of mercury in use in new UK barometers per year and perhaps the 200 kilos in Europe the MEP's have been led to believe that this will assist the considerable environmental problem in Europe. UK dentists apparently use 70 tons of mercury in fillings per year - most of us are cremated with no capture of the released mercury vapours. UK is the 2nd largest contaminator of mercury in the atmosphere from coal burning power industry (according to the EU's reports) so it makes sense to erradicate the skilled operators who recover mercury from old barometers and are best suited to advise barometer owners how best to deal with mercury. I wonder what people will do with their broken barometers in the future when no one is left to advise or assist. Perhaps they can contact Linda McAvan for assistance as she is apparently more informed than we at Barometer World are! At Barometer World we believe that mercury should be controlled by simple extension of already established methods of licencing by local councils so as to ensure all mercury used is handled, recovered and traceable in a correct and responsible maner. This would include all users not just the 3 (yes only 3 makers of barometers in UK) such as 100's of restorers of antique barometers, clock repairers (mercury in some old clock pendulms) Under the EU legislation anyone can still buy mercury, make your own barometers and other instruments - what sense is that if they thought Mercury was such a serious health threat? The views expressed here are by Philip Colins - an experienced mercury barometer maker and restorer since 1979, he has written 5 books on barometers, appeared on numerous television programmes, written many articles and is considered a world authority on British Barometers. He has been and is consulted by many UK museums, Auction Houses, Private collectors, The National Trust, and The Met Office and many such bodies on barometer issues. In the course of his career he has taken a personal interest in and studied mercury issues. He is a fellow of the Royal Met Society.
For Press contacts please ring 01805 603443 Tuesday to Saturday 9 till 5.
older news Victory to common sense and democracy (for a change perhaps!) Todays vote (327 for 284 against) in the EU Parliment allows mercury barometers to continue to be made. The vote is not just a victory for common sense but will enable barometer owners the chance to be able to dispose of mercury through correct proceedures and we look forward to continuing to protect the enviroment from inappropriate disposal which would have risen significantly over the next decade or two, had the amendment failed. We wish to thank not only the other barometer makers in the UK and Europe that have pulled together to lobby MEP's but especially Martin Callanan and his team for putting the amendment and their support as well as The Federation of Small Buisnesses for their help in the cause. The effect will be approx a 6 month delay before it goes to 2nd reading and the detail to be arranged about licensed and controlled conditions. older news follows here. EU Plan to Ban New Mercury Barometers. Some information for Editors and other intrested people on the proposed Mercury Ban by EU Commission. Letter to Finish Presidency who are in favour of the Ban - From Mr Blockland Dutch MEP Infomation sheet 1 side A4 (for MEP's) Pictures of Barometer Makers and Neil Parish MEP on recent fact finding visit.
THE VOTE for Martin Callanan's amendment to save the enviroment from indiscriminate dumping of mercury is scheduled for Tuesday 14th Novemeber 2006 - watch this space for further updates. Background to the VOTE is:- A small number of professional companies in the EU produce new barometers using mercury. The European Commission, however, has proposed a Directive which will ban the use of mercury in barometers. A ban would see the end of the tradition of barometer making which was begun in the mid 1600s when mercury barometers were first introduced. This Directive has now reached plenary stage. An amendment tabled by Members from the EPP-ED, ALDE and IND-DEM, was passed in the Environment Committee to exempt barometers from the proposal in carefully controlled and licensed circumstances and allow their continued manufacture. However, the Finnish Presidency are looking to reach a first reading agreement and do not want to accept that the traditional craft of barometer making should be exempted from the proposal, despite this amendment being accepted in committee. The Presidency are supported by the Rapporteur (PES) who does not believe that the production of these instruments should be allowed to continue, and is willing to allow them to be banned. Careful labelling and product safety warnings for usage means that people can continue to use barometers without a threat to the environment or to health. Barometers are only made by a small group of people in Europe who also carry out the repair, maintenance and recycling of historic instruments. Barometers are expensive and highly sought after. As such they are extremely unlikely to be broken up and disposed of in landfill sites. Mercury barometers are long life products that can function, if serviced approximately every fifty years, for generations. In addition, they are easily repaired and recycled. If these businesses are forced to close, consumers will be unable to have their instruments repaired properly and will potentially dispose of them into household waste. Operators who have a good working understanding of mercury and its hazards are best placed to help reduce pollution by a licensed control system. The licensing of suitable establishments would enable use of mercury to be carefully controlled and monitored. Prohibition will make way for illegal and thus uncontrollable manufacturing and repair by non-professionals. Furthermore it will destroy the know how of handling and servicing of barometers. Finally: the directive contains some enormous loopholes. For example: it is only the marketing of new devices that is prevented; there is nothing to stop manufacturers selling new barometers without any mercury and subsequently taking them back for "repair" at a later stage and filling them with mercury; manufacturers will be able to sell empty instruments with instructions on how to fill them with mercury yourself. This is all far more hazardous.
ENDS
Letter to Finish Presidency in favour of the ban from Mr Blokland - Dutch MEP Ms Nina Vaskunlahti Brussels, October 19, 2006. Concerns: Mercury in Measuring Devices (COD/2006/18)
At this very moment, the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the European Commission, are engaged in informal meetings to find common ground for an agreement in first reading on the proposal for a directive on amending Council Directive 76/769/EEC relating to restrictions on the marketing of certain measuring devices containing mercury (COD/2006/18). The representatives of the Council have asked the Parliament for a clarification on amendment 5, part b, that was adopted by the EP’s committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. It appeared to me that the Council was rather reluctant in its way to find a compromise on this amendment, as it was unclear for the Council what our aim with this amendment is. I would like to take the liberty to explain this amendment to you. The text of the particular paragraph of the amendment reads: By way of derogation, points (1) and (2) shall not apply to: […] (b) the production of traditional barometers using small quantities of mercury in carefully controlled and licensed environments. I have submitted this amendment together with my colleagues Martin Callanan of the EPP-ED Group and Jules Maaten of the ALDE Group. Our aim is to safeguard the production of traditional barometers in the European Union. At this moment, only a few producers are still active in the EU. In my home country, the Netherlands, there are only two. In the UK, it concerns less than five. The barometers they produce are not intended for professional use, but are used as decorative pieces of art. The prices normally range from 200 to 500 EUR, so it is obvious that these products are not intended for mass production or a broad public. Only mercury can be used as indicator liquid for the production of these barometers, because of its high density (13,6 kg/l). There is of course electronic equipment available on the market that can measure air pressure, but these products will not last as long as barometers, even when they are well maintained, and consequently generate more electronic waste. Apart from this technical problem, an environmental problem will also occur when the use of mercury in barometers is prohibited: the producers of barometers now function as a knowledge base for repairing mercury containing products, and also collect mercury that is not used anymore in e.g. laboratories. In fact, most producers rarely buy mercury, as the amount of mercury offered to them by third parties for recycling is largely enough to meet their own demand. Therefore, a ban on the use of mercury in barometers will not only lead to a loss of jobs in highly specialized companies, as no alternative liquid is available, but it can also lead to a situation in which MORE mercury is found in waste streams, as the producers are not able to function as a service facility anymore where people can deliver their mercury for recycling. Moreover, the maintenance of products currently on the market is no longer guaranteed because the income generated from maintenance operations would not be enough to keep these companies in business. The same reasons as stated above were also taken into account by the Dutch government, when it issued a decree in 1998 that prohibited the use of mercury in any product except heating equipment, activity sensors and barometers! The derogation for barometers expired in 2005, but was extended indefinitely by the Environment ministry, as no harm to the environment was found. May I, for all these reasons, urge you to reconsider the Council’s position on amendment 5? A ban on the use of mercury in barometers will lead to the loss of jobs in one of Europe’s last remaining traditional industries, without any real benefit to the environment. My staff and I are of course available for any advice you might need on finding a compromise in this matter, or to reflect on possible alternative wording. Yours sincerely, Hans Blokland PhD ENDS
Barometers have been manufactured in the UK for over 350 years and there are currently only a few barometer makers left in the UK. If banned by the EU, the traditional art of barometer making like so many other skills will be lost, this time not because of economic decline or modern alternatives – no, this loss to will be directly due to the EU Commission. The Directive is calling for an outright ban on all barometers because they contain mercury. However, barometers only contain very small amounts of mercury compared with other industries which are not under threat from the EU and we question why they are wasting their time on such a trivial non-strategic approach. Philip Collins, Secretary of the British Barometer Makers Association (BBMA) said: “Recent data states that each year 3600 tons of mercury is used globally in industry, of which 300 tons is used in the EU. In the UK, less than 30 kilos of mercury is used every year in new barometers. Therefore, banning them outright would be disproportionate to the risks posed by the tiny amount of mercury they contain. The banning of mercury barometers will not stop pollution; in fact it could become more prevalent as the general public will not know how to dispose of their barometers correctly. Without the specialist knowledge and experience of those currently working in the industry there will be less safeguards in place to prevent mercury being dumped into landfill sites around the country.” Representatives of the BBMA have requested that a limited amount of new barometer manufacturing is allowed under licensed and controlled conditions. This would maintain the traditional and necessary skills to handle mercury in a correct manner and enable a small core of experienced workers to further advise the public on correct disposal if and when necessary. Martin Callahan, MEP, has tabled an amendment to the Directive which will be read w/c 13th November. He said: “It is vital we get support for this amendment. We must protect the country’s heritage and companies making barometers must be allowed to continue this ancient art.” Adding his support, Michael Fish, Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society said: “The Met Office began with mercury barometers, I hope the EU will not end this fine traditional craft." -ENDS- For further press information contact: Philip Collins, Secretary of the British Barometer Makers Association, c/o Barometer World Ltd. Merton, Okehampton, Devon EX20 3DS. Tel 01805 603443 Fax 01805 603344, E-mail prc@barometerworld.co.uk
ENDS
Infomation sheet 1 side A4 (for MEP's) Fact Sheet for MEP’s Directive will ban ancient craft of Barometer making Yet again part of European industrial heritage is facing extinction, please vote for the derogation tabled by Callanan, Maaten, Blokland and Bowis to save this ancient craft and protect our environment. The humble craft of mercury barometer makers will be banned if this amendment is not passed. We need your vote for this amendment, please read the following 10 reasons why mercury barometers should not be added to the list of mercury-filled products to be banned: 1. European Heritage – Barometers have been made in Europe for over 350 years. Prohibiting the making of new barometers will destroy an already dying piece of history. 2. Dying Skill - Grants are available for preserving dying skills such as wheelwrights, clock making, blacksmithing, yet this ancient skill of barometer making is being made extinct for no real good reason. 3. Tighter Controls - Representatives of the European Barometer Makers Association (EBMA) have requested that a limited amount of new barometer manufacturing is allowed under licensed and controlled conditions. A suggestion that has far more merit than an outright ban and would maintain the traditional and necessary skills to handle mercury in a correct manner and enable this small core of experienced workers to further advise public on correct disposal if and when necessary. 4. The Figures - Most recent data (now 6 years old) states 3600 tons of mercury is used globally of which 300 tons in EU per year - in the UK less than 30 kilos of mercury used per year in new barometers, the average barometer containing only 70 grams! In Holland about 55kilos, in Belgium about 225 kilos and in France about 250 kilos (estimated). Estimated total: 560 kilos of mercury is used in new barometers in Europe. 5. Recycled Mercury - For the production of new mercury barometers much of these are already made from recycled mercury, so very little new mercury comes in the market. 6. Other Causes for Concern - Tons of mercury is still used in industry.
Every florescent tube has a very small amount and at end of life often
enters the waste stream. UK coal burning power industries are the second
largest pollutant in the EEC (a trace of mercury apparently in coal)
and our crematoriums continuously blast mercury vapours into the atmosphere
– from mercury amalgam fillings (90 tons of mercury used per year).
8. Effective Reduction of Mercury - Consideration should immediately be given to effective reduction of mercury in the atmosphere from coal burning industries and crematorium, as well as licensing and control of fluorescent lamp manufacturers and wider public awareness of correct disposal of fluorescent lamps. If the tons of mercury entering the atmosphere was reduced - as it will have to be – pollution problems would soon be minimised. If barometer makers are ceased from plying their wares it can hardly make any difference for many years to come. 9. Illegal trading - Prohibiting mercury barometers will make way for illegal and uncontrollable manufacturing and repairing by non-professionals 10. We need your vote! - Please support this derogation during w/c 13th November and help maintain this rare skill. Don’t throw 350 years of knowledge and European heritage down the drain. Contact :-Mr P Collins -British Barometer Makers Association c/o Barometer
World, Merton, Devon, EX20 3DS ENDS
Pictures of Barometer Makers and Neil Parish MEP on recent fact finding visit (higher res available on request)
Neil Parish MEP Watches Andrew make a barometer tube.
Neil Parish MEP discusses traditional barometer making with barometer maker Anthony
Neil Parish MEP on fact finding visit met international renowned barometer specialist Philip Collins with one of the hand built threatened barometers at Barometer World in Devon U.K. ENDS
old news items start here THE LONG LANE A private publication of local history book about farming and life in Merton before 1938 written by Mark Boutcher Quance of Towell Farm Merton. 200 pages with some hand drawn illustrations and a few pictures. Written by Mark for his grand daughters to record their ancestors and his knowledge of his former days. The family now think the information should be preserved and shared by a wider audience. It is a fascinating account and easy to read. Cost is £10 plus postage (£2 in UK) If you or your family came from Merton in Devon or you just have an interest in local history of Devon then you are sure to enjoy this unique little history. If you wonder why it is on here it is due to our directors personal interest in teh subject and any profit will be going directly to Merton ChurchYard Fund. FitzRoy
Day
will
be the bi-centenary of Robert FitzRoy's birth Contact: Philip Collins Barometer
World, Merton, Tel: (01805) 603443 e-mail: mailto:barometers@barometerworld.co.uk
Picture of Philip Collins of Barometer World as Captain Robert FitzRoy: available for special events and evening talks. Atmospheric Railway First trial demonstration of Brunnels atmospheric railway Model took place at Barometer World on 12 April 2003 - Since then a number of dispalys have taken place proving the power of the atmosphere. The latest public display was at Old Forde House in Newton Abbot where for the first time for over 100 years people travelled by Vacuum train! A tremndous succesful day with Barometer World team entertaining the public with intresting and educational experiments about air pressure and vacuums.
Railway Under Pressure! The Power of Nothing Brunel's Atmospheric Train, the 'Atmospheric Caper' of 1847 was recreated at Barometer World in Merton, Devon with an exceptional working model of the original, built in the 19th century from Exeter to Teignmouth. Local extrovert, Philip Collins, of Barometer World, Merton has been researching this unique phenomenon. A train without an engine! Gliding silently through the countryside on what appeared to be a largish drainpipe between the rails.
Many people remember the impressive vacuum experiment carried
out on Torrington Commons three years ago when Mr Collins employed 16
cart horses to try to pull apart a sphere made of two metal hemispheres,
held together only by air pressure. This was a recreation of the famous
New book on unusual weather predictors planned for 2003.
older news here on Barometer Magazine - Great success! Barometer Magazine special edition has been well appreciated by many learned people, even thise not especially interested in barometers have found it 'extremely interesting' Not a boring technical magazine but a highly proffesionally produced magazine to interest all the family! Barometer Magazine - a special edition magazine - (Journal) titled BAROMETERS. This is the first type of Barometer Magazine produced (to our knowledge) Internationally known barometer specialist Philip Collins of Barometer World has written and brought together a number of associated articles and interesting snippets. A must for all keen barometer enthusiasts world wide. . Cover price £4.95 Carriage free ( in U.K.) if bought direct from us. Stockist enquiries welcome.
Glass kiln planned to be re fired on Thursday 25th October and a further attempt to make barometer tubes made on Saturday 27th October. Last time we lit we fired only one night, this was to empty the crucible but proved that 24 hours is not enough to find the glass, this time we will plan to fire two nights with one pot of 40 kilos of glass. Glass production will begin (we hope) at about 10.00 a.m. Visitors welcome. Press please contact us on 01805 603443 for times etc.
GLASS KILN RE LIT 22nd June 2001 see below for pictures etc. We learnt a lot last time and found that 80 kilos of glass was just TOO much to use, so this time we used one pot with 40 kilos of glass in it. We have enlarged the gathering hole to enable more glass to be gathered for fatter and longer tubes. An incredible few days were spent towards the end of April when the glass kiln was fired up and at one time reached 1220 degrees C. Considering that it was fired by wood we were very pleased with the outcome of the construction and effectiveness of the heat generated, most of the time it was kept to around 1150 degrees C. On the Saturday morning the glass was ready to attempt making tubing as they might have in the 17th century. The whole experiment proved very useful, a few minor changes will be needed to the kiln and next time we hope to produce some even better glass tubing. For fun we pulled one tube as long as we could which measured over 90 feet!! The following pictures show some of the days work.
Stoking one of the fireboxes. The glass kiln at working temperature.
Starting to pull a tube. Pulling a tube .
Inspecting a glass tube made at Barometer World, Merton.
Latest Exhibit unveiled at Barometer World Museum. Tuesday 27th February 2001 marked the unveiling of our most unusual exhibit ever. Exactly 150 years since the designer and inventor Dr George Merryweather read his explanatory essay before The Whitby Philosophical Society. A truly unusual curiosity which will fascinate visitors. THE TEMPEST PROGNOSTICATOR more details on our information section
17th Century Glass Kiln NEARLY COMPLETED! 06/01/01 Work on building a 17th century style wood fired glass kiln has nearly finished! at Barometer World.
The kiln is slowly drying out picture show it in nearly completed form. First firing is planned for Thursday 26th and working glass on the Saturday morning if it goes well. Some viewers may query the sense of a wooden structure over it, well as it is not intended to be fired often it needs protecting from at least some rain! when fired a metal liner is planned to be used to take the exhaust heat away and the daub will be painted with lime and linseed oil to give some weather protection around the year.
On a miserable wet weekend in November (that is about all weekends last quarter!) some members of Melfords Hys Companie worked hard at completing the structure and coating the whole in a liberal amount of daub to further insulate it when in use. The hovel around it is yet to be finished and a test firing, possible with a load of pottery inside it (pity to waste all that heat!) will be carried out as soon as possible. The unusually wet weather does mean that it will take some time to dry out enough to test it. When completed it will be fired for its first real time perhaps in May but dates are still to be sorted out. Many hands will be needed to stay up around the clock for as much as 48 hours! to allow it to find. The kiln based on early kiln designs is being being built by specialist Jack Green in a smaller size than original but will be fully workable when completed. To fire the kiln (sometime next year) wood will be used as originally done. It is hoped to learn much about the method of pulling barometer tubing as done in the early days of barometers. After some practice it is also hoped that some usable glass will be produced for special restoration of early barometers.
BAROGRAPH BOOK - UPDATES 30/08/02 Philip Collins long research into barographs has come towards an end, this latest Book on Barographs published by Baros books in 2002, detailing many types of old barographs and helping the dealer and collector to date them by examples and patents surviving. The book gives general hints on caring for them and setting them up etc. As with aneroid barometers Philip Collins discovers there is more to Barographs than may at first be expected! As with any book more information comes to light after print. here follows some data that may be of interest to onwers of the book. 1.We have been contacted by a couple of people about the Agolini recording barometer. There are at least 3 Agolini recording thermobarometers existing in Italy: at the Brera astronomical observatory (Milan), at the Ximenian observatory (Florence) and in a school collection in Chiavari (Genua). The first of them can be seen at: http://albinoni.brera.unimi.it/CAELUM/MUSEO/Schede/sch31.html 2. According to an ex employee who visited our museum in 2002, Short and Mason were owned by an American company in the early 1900's Taylor instruments, thus is explained the close links with this American company who kept the name of Short and Mason going strong but often used 'Tycos' as a brand name.
Old news follows here onwards.
further items follow here about the Magdeburg experiment.
1 - 2 - 3 Pull!
Latest update 7th April 2000
1,2,3 PULL!
National Science Week can be praised for encouraging people throughout the country to enter into many types of science projects. This year we were fortunate to be grant aided by Copus, the committee of public understanding of science, to re-enact the complete Magdeburg Experiment. For those readers who are not aware of this it is a 17th century experiment first carried out by Otto Von Guericke in Magdeburg, Germany. Otto Von Guericke, 1602 - 1686, was an incredible natural scientist. In 1654 he designed a vacuum pump to withdraw air from vessels. In 1643 Torricelli had made the first barometer, after taking over notes from Galileo and in those days work on the vacuum was very much in the forefront of pioneering science. It is without doubt that Otto Von Guericke, considered to be the ‘father of the vacuum’, was a showman and he carried out a number of public experiments on vacuums and pressure. Robert Boyle took over much of the continuation and furtherance of his work in Britain.
The original experiment grew out of smaller hemispheres and indeed such was the cost of these hemispheres in productions that even the rich Otto Von Guericke could not afford to continue all of this work as he may have liked to. But in 1657 he demonstrated in front of Ferdinand III, and other people, the tremendous weight of air around us. He believed that the air presses down upon us in an almost unseen force. To prove this he evacuated two very heavy large hemispheres, after having placed them together with a leather seal. This leather seal would certainly have had some thick grease or fat, possibly beeswax melted into it to provide an airtight seal. With the use of his newly invented vacuum pump he then evacuated the hemispheres, which stayed together under the pressure of air outside. Using an increasing number of horses he then began to try and pull them apart. Horses at that time were thought to be and recognised as being very strong; they were used daily in ploughing and working the land, as well as for war horses and transport. Von Guericke progressed to 16 horses, although I have heard in later discussions and writings that he was considering using a larger number of horses. On Saturday 18th March we at Barometer World organised this re-enactment on the Old Bowling Green at Torrington. Despite being aware of the experiment, and having seen photographs and a video when it was performed in Germany previously, this was the first time ever in the United Kingdom that this experiment took place with 16 horses; it is only seeing the experiment in the flesh that brings home the tremendous forces involved in holding the spheres together. With the 16 horses accustomed to daily working on farms, brought together especially for this occasion, pulling and straining to pull the hemispheres apart one really gets a feel for this immense weight of air around us in which we live all the time and in which the daily variations are indicated on the barometer, which itself indicates the approaching weather changes. Fortunately on the day the weather was dry. In the morning it was slightly overcast but lovely and sunny in the afternoon. The pressure was high at 1035 Mb, further ensuring that the hemispheres would be held firmly together. Very occasionally they will pull apart due to low pressure, particularly at high altitude and if the horses pull with exceptional force. Before the main experiment a number of small experiments were conducted with children pulling on small hemispheres and eighteen men pulling against two horses. In the afternoon the horses easily overcame the strength of eighteen men. It was experiments such as these that encouraged early scientists, and indeed meteorologists to study the air pressure changes and to interpret the wonderful weather, which fascinates so many of us today. Next time you look at your barometer try and remember that it is indicating the current pressure but that normal average pressure is about 15 lb. per square inch pressing down. We are used to this phenomenon and indeed we would suffer greatly if the pressure reduced. Our whole being depends on this pressure and the air that we breathe. ENDS This update 24th March 2000 Well the whole day went very well. Thanks to so many that helped before and on the day including my re-enactment friends that helped set the scene. Jack Greene was excellent in his role as commentator, well over 3000 people turned out to see the experiment, and some even took part. The morning was good, but the afternoon was terrific. The sun came out and horses and handlers and even Jack Greene new what was happening, it all went very well. A few photos of the event can be found by clicking HERE More detailed photos for magazine use can be supplied if requested. I think about 10 rolls of film were used on the day by us so there are some good pictures.
Further to a visit this weekend by Ditmar Schneiderm, Dr. Manfred Troger and Peter Streitenderger all of the Otto von Guericke Society, they have agreed in principle (subject to contract) to come back in March and perform the Magdeburg Experiment with their hemispheres. The ones they use are fairly new copies costing about £8500. They will come over as a group of at least 7 to carryout this experiment. They enjoyed a weekend in Devon whilst looking at some of the horses and harness that would be used and the site intended on Torrington Common. They also took the chance to visit briefly just a few places in the area. A few snaps of their visit are here. PICTURES Further information from: Philip Collins Tel: 01805-603443 Fax: 01805-603344 E-Mail press@barometerworld.co.uk
SO WHAT! So what’s the point of attaching 16 horses to a large ball and persuading them to play tug-of-war with it? It’s all been dreamt up by that chap at Barometer World – so the chances are that it’ll have something to do with …………. Barometers? Everyone knows that they’re pretty fragile things, so there’s obviously not a barometer inside. So what’s the point? In fact there’s nothing inside at all – completely nothing – a total vacuum. The sphere has been made in two halves, which have been carefully lined up with each other and then held in place while all the air is pumped out. After that they don’t have to be held anymore – so they stay sucked together. (Yes that’s sucked together, not stuck together as in glue.) But all you have to do to break them apart is to give them a good tug! Well how much of a good tug?
Perhaps one hand on each side? Or a person on each side? Surely a couple of strong men should do it? It so happens that Otto Von Guericke was intrigued by this question back in 1656.
He did some sums and reckoned it would take several horses, pulling with all their might, to break apart a 62cm diameter globe.
His friends then did some reckoning of their own and decided he was daft so he put the ball in their court (so to speak) and set out to prove it. His calculations were based on the knowledge that air presses down. We’re not aware of this, but every square centimetre of our skin has 1.09 kilos pressing on it. The sphere has a total of about 3294 kilos acting on it! Normally this is exactly balanced by the air inside, but if you take the air out.. .. well, all that pressure keeps the two halves firmly together. That’s also why he chose a sphere for the experiment as any other shape would probably buckle. So was he right? Well that, as they say, is history! Here are some experiments that you could try for yourself. They won’t take as much preparation as 1,2,3 – pull!
Information and fact file: Our atmosphere (air) extends to approximately 600 kilometres above the ground. At high altitude (low pressure) water boils at much lower temperatures but it is not hot enough to cook with. Meteorologists plot points of equal pressure to produce the isobar charts. Evangelista Torricelli made the first barometer in 1643, using mercury. Barometer World has a collection of over 300 different barometers. Barometers can be used to measure altitude. Barometers are still the single most useful tool to predict the weather changes. Barometers have been used on the moon – the pressure is about 24 millibars. On earth an average is about 1000 millibars. Weather houses react to moisture in the air. Wild oats can be used to indicate moisture change. Some people suffer from aches and pains during bad weather or advancing bad weather – they could perhaps be called human barometers, as they may be more sensitive to pressure changes than the majority of us. Links: http://www.uni-magdeburg.de/org/ourg
I hope you have enjoy watching our performance. It has always been intended as a fun occasion to demonstrate a very simple but little understood fact that there is tremendous force in the weight of the air we live and breathe in. It indeed took me many years before I began to understand it. Working with barometers as we do at Barometer World there are many interesting facets to barometers and the discovery by Evangelista Torricelli in 1643 was one of the most important discoveries of our times. Curiously people discussed what the gap at the top of the barometer was, which we know today is a vacuum. At that time it was thought impossible to have a vacuum – they thought gases came through the glass itself, or spirits through the mercury. Our experiment at the North Devon Show in August 1998 utilised the wine barometer that Pascal built to prove that it was spirits percolating through. For those of you who missed that I hope to perform the experiment again at some later date. You may ask what is National Science Week. This is a week exploring science, engineering and technology each year from 17th March. COPUS, the committee on public understanding of science, is a joint initiative of the Royal Society, Royal Institution and the British Association, promoting a better understanding of science, engineering and technology in society. They have been supporting this exciting re-enactment here today with the aid of a grant. Throughout the county this week there will be many hands-on experiments, talks and lectures and much much more. Otto von Guericke was born in 1602 (died 1686) he is considered the Father of the Vacuum. He studied natural science and is best remembered for his public experiments with hemi-spheres and horses. He was also a very important states man. He worked with the Swedish army as an engineer in his earlier years. He planned the rebuilding of his home town Magdeburg after its destruction during the 30 years war. He was Mayor and a highly important civic dignitary. His experiments were wide ranging including early electrical experiments using a sulphur ball. His vacuum experiments set the pace for many scientists that followed. There is a special exhibition be planned in Magdeburg of his life and work during 2002 the 400th anniversary of his birth. |
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