Antique Silver Pocket Barometer Compass Compendium in Original Travel Case by Alfred Clark c.1903

A very good and extremely scarce silver and silver gilt travel aneroid barometer, altimeter, compass and thermometer compendium by Alfred Clark, New Bond Street, London c.1903. Pocket barometer having 2” stepped gilt die struck dial, the outer bezel operated altitude ring calibrated in feet with a range from 0-8,000ft divided down to 100ft, inner barometric scale calibrated in inches of mercury with a range from 23in – 31in divided to 1/20th in, gilt brass pointer, bevelled glass. Inset dial with standard meteorological terms, compass with bi-tone blued and bright needle, jewelled suspension, the card with cardinal and intercardinal points, and semi circular thermometer, the register calibrated in degrees Fahrenheit with a range from 20° – 130° divided down to 2°. Conventional Vidie pattern movement driven from a single 1in nickel alloy capsule tensioned on a C spring. All contained in a substantial engine turned silver case, the inner rim engraved “Clark, 33 New Bond Street W” and struck with silver hallmarks “Ac” for Alfred Clark, date letter “h” for 1903, and marks for London and sterling silver. Gilt inner lid.   Presented in its original clam shell, grained green leather over timber, green velvet and silk lined case, Alfred Clark royal warrant in gold block to lid silk, snap closure on a button release.   Condition: The subject of a full service, conservation, and calibration under laboratory conditions, see performance chart from dynamic test. The barometer working well with maximum error of 0.25in across the scale. The dial very clean and crisp, the compass swinging freely and easily finding north. The thermometer not working with some damage evident. The silver case with slight distortion to upper rim of lid, otherwise sharp and with good colour. The travel case structurally sound, externally retaining its original leather covering, correctly re-coloured; the fabric interior, lid silk somewhat perished, the velvet sound and with good colour.   Comments: A very rare pattern from arguably Britain’s top silversmith of the day, working by Royal Appointment. I have seen several similar instruments with irrefutable royal connections. A very finely made instrument and certainly one of the best of its type.