Banjo Barometer: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This is a compound instrument in a wooden frame. The large circular face is silvered. The scale around the edge extends from 28 to 31 inches of mercury, and subdivided to 0.01 inches; there are also indications for “STORMY,” MUCH RAIN,” “RAIN,” “Change,” “FAIR,” “SET FAIR,” and “Very Dry.” There is a mercury-in-glass thermometer above, mounted on a silvered scale that extends from 0 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, with indications for “Freezing,” “Blood Heat,” etc. At top there is a small gut hygrometer. A medallion at the bottom reads “B. PIKE & SONS / 518 BROADWAY / NEW YORK.” The firm was in business from 1841 to 1867, and at this address from 1855. It is difficult to know if the Pikes made this instrument, or simply sold it.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1855-1867
• Object Name: mercury banjo barometer
• Object Name: barometer
• Measurements: overall: 36 7/8 in x 10 in x 1 1/4 in; 93.6625 cm x 25.4 cm x 3.175 cm
• place made: United States: New York, New York
• ID Number: PH.319958
• accession number: 240912
• catalog number: 319958
• Credit Line: Silvio Bedini
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.