Early Aneroid Barometer Retailed by Macrae c.1865

A good early aneroid barometer with French movement, retailed by Macrae c1865. Antique aneroid barometer having 4½” printed heavy card dial, outer barometric scale calibrated in inches of mercury with a range from 25 – 31, with stations on the inch and divided to 1/50ths. The inner part with standard meteorological terms and signed by the retailer, “Macrae, 29 Royal Exchange, London.” Blued steel pointer set beneath a flat glass with gilt brass index. The dial centre decorated with a printed star design. The early pattern French movement tensioned on a coil spring and driven from a single 2.5” capsule. All contained in a stepped form lacquered brass case. Calibration port to verso. Comments: This early aneroid barometer has a good quality French movement, possibly by Naudet, and a descendant of those French movements used by Vidi in the first aneroid instruments. A very good example of the second generation of aneroid barometers which followed the expiration of the Vidi patent in 1855.