Antique 1887 DRAPER'S Self-Recording Thermometer with Seth Thomas Clock Works

  
DRAPER'S Self-Recording Thermometer Pat'd 1887 Seth Thomas Clock Works. From the estate of a sea captain in Jefferson, Maine. This instrument is driven by brass, Seth Thomas clock works and functions by rotating a brass wheel that holds a circular recording chart. A marking pencil would move inward or outward depending on the temperature and the chart would rotate one revolution per week. Very few examples of these still exist. This may be the best one available in the world.

It is not as nice as this one and not working. Invented by Daniel Draper, former director of the meteorological observatory in New York's Central Park. In the mid 1880's Draper established the Draper Manufacturing Co. And began producing self-recording meteorological instruments. The Lick Observatory In California had one and donated it to the Smithsonian Museum in 1960.

Constructed of copper & cast iron & brass. Cast iron base plate is marked, as shown. Has the original wind-up key (always missing) No cracks in cast iron or dents copper case. Clock runs well Only oner paper recording chart (unused) Brass Disk with paper chart lifts off to gain access to insert key for winding.

Measures 20 1/4" tall by 14" wide by 4 3/4 deep. It is highly doubtful that another antique whether instrument in this condition will ever surface again. The Draper self-recording thermometer, or thermograph, an American instrument, possesses a metallic thermometer, one end of which is fixed while the other end is attached to a train of levers, to magnify the small movements due to expansion or contraction by change of temperature. The end of the last lever carries a pen which contains a non-freezing glycerine ink, and rests on a circular record sheet that rotates once a week.

As the temperature rises, the pen is carried outwards from the center of the sheet; as the temperature falls, the pen is carried inwards. The sheet is divided into days and hours by curved radial lines, and into degrees by concentric circular lines; so that the temperature at any time can be easily read off. Although instruments of this kind are not so accurate as good mercurial thermometers, they make up for their slight inaccuracy by the continuity of their record; and if checked by frequent readings of a mercurial thermometer and driven by an accurate clock, they are of great value.

The Draper self-recording thermometer is made by the Draper Manufacturing Co. 152 Front Street, New York.

From 1894 also discussed this instrument and observed that it could be used not only in weather-recording, but also for industrial applications such as drying kilns where temperatures needed to be monitored so they did not get too high. Among these was the self-recording thermometer, with a mechanism made by Seth Thomas, one of the pre-eminent American clockmakers.

Raised lettering on case: Draper's Self Recording Thermometer. Dial label: Draper's Thermometer Observed At Week Ending ________19__.

Condition: Paper dial very good with the usual overall light toning, wear. Case very good with the usual overall wear and oxidation to metal, and wear to gilt highlights.

Bulletin, Issue 11, Parts 1-3. United States Weather Bureau: 1894. The item "Antique 1887 DRAPER'S Self-Recording Thermometer with Seth Thomas Clock Works" is in sale since Monday, October 30, 2017. This item is in the category "Antiques\Science & Medicine (Pre-1930)\Scientific Instruments\Other Antique Science Equip". The seller is "garland1246" and is located in Warwick, Rhode Island.

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