A VICTORIAN OAK MERCURY 'ADMIRAL FITZROY'S STORM BAROMETER'NEGRETTI AND ZAMBRA, LONDON, CIRCA 1870The arched bevel-glazed double ceramic Vernier scales flanking mercury tube, each calibrated in barometric inches and with the ual observations, the lower margins annotated ADD ONE TENTH FOR, EACH HUNDRED, FEET ABOVE, THE SEA and 10 A.M YESTERDAY and 10 A.M TO DAY over PATENT and No. 378 and with signature NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA, INSTRUMENT MAKERS, TO HER MAJESTY, HOLBORN VIADUCT E.C., 122 REGENT ST. W, & 59 CORNHILL E.C., LONDON to upper margin, the apex of the arch further inscribed ADMIRAL FITZROY'S, STORM BAROMETER., the trunk with Vernier setting squares to throat above applied glazed mercury tube Fahrenheit scale thermometer further signed NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA, 11, HATTON GARDEN, &, CORNHILL LONDON to upper margin and with ogee moulded crests to the upper and lower rails, the base with rectangular ogee moulded cistern cover over conforming base moulding with level adjtment screw to underside.102cm (40ins) high, 13cm (5ins) wide. Provenance: The exhibition collection of Barometer World Meum, Merton, Devon. The firm of Negretti & Zambra are recorded in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETER MAKERS AND RETAILERS 1660-1900 as being established in 1850 when a partner between Enrico Negretti and Joseph Warren Zambra was formed. The firm became one of the most prolific makers of scientific instruments and continued trading well into the 20th century.The current lot is a textbook example of a Fishery or Sea Coast storm barometer devised by Admiral Robert Fitzroy in the 1860`s to aid mariners in the forecasting of storms. Fitzroy lobbied the Board of Trade resulting in this type of barometer being supplied (at public expense) to many coastalmunities for display in a prominent public space. In addition to this The Royal Lifeboat Institution installed these barometers into each of its stations and the Duke of Northumberland (in association with the British Meteorological Society) erected several on the coast of Northumberland. By 1864 over 80 barometers had been installed by the Board of Trade and a further 14 by the Duke of Northumberland with their efulness fully appreciated in Fitzroy's Meteorological Office Report published that year.