General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Brass casing. Metal face and indicator needle. Glass window. Leather case with velvet lining.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

15.7 cm

Width

12.2 cm

Height

5.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Mining and Metallurgy

Category

Miscellaneous

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Example of type of instrument used by the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC). The Geological Survey of Canada was founded in 1842 to determine if the province's resources could support a mining industry. Throughout its long and continuing operation, the survey has charted the geology of Canada (on shore and off), as well as studying the country's topology, flora and fauna, and climate. Not all the GSC's were specifically aimed at supporting the mining and petroleum industries. For example, the survey has helped public works projects and, since the 1980s, conducted environmental-impact studies. This barometer is also significant because it represents one type of Canadian "made" or signed surveying instrument. Often, Canadian sellers of surveying instruments sold foreign made instruments engraved with their own name. This is likely one of those instruments. Harrison & Co. was Thomas H. Hearn's wholesale business, which was run by his son John. Harrison was an instrument maker in Montreal, who was married to, and business partners with, the widow of Toronto instrument maker Charles Hearn. From 1870, they worked together as Hearn & Co. (they were married ca. 1874). They both sold their own instruments and those that were imported. In the 1880s, Hearn & Co. became Hearn & Harrison. Harrison & Co. continued for some time after this date, but was probably folded into Hearn & Harrison at some time.

Function

An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure by means of its effect on an aneroid, or metal chamber partially exhausted of air. This type was used in altitude measuring.

Technical

This surveying barometer was specially designed to accommodate mining. Whereas a normal surveying barometer might have an altitude scale that read to 6 000 feet (for example), this scale of this barometer registers 2 000 feet below sea level to 4 000 feet above sea level. It is compensated for temperature and comes with a magnifier.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Back incised by hand 'G.S.C. No. 70'/ Black lettering on face reads mostly in script 'Surveying Aneroid/ with Mining Scale/ Harrison & Co./ MONTREAL/ Compensated'.

Missing

From CA of 11/15/1993 by Tony Missio: No - Complete

Finish

Original black finish largely worn away. Anodized face. Blued needle. Brown leather case.

Decoration

N/A