拍品 78
78
A 19th century Sykes Hydrometer set by Buss
A 19th century Sykes Hydrometer set by Buss

細節
A 19th century Sykes Hydrometer set by Buss
mahogany case signed on the exterior ivory plaque "Sikes Hydrometer/BUSS 36 Hatton Garden LONDON/Maker to the REVENUE of the/UNITED KINGDOM". With the purpled padded felt liner with a brass float and fitted weights each signed "Buss", calibrated in percent alcohol and used with the ivory scaled mercury thermometer.
4 1/8 x 9¾ in. (10.5 x 24.8 cm.) box

拍品專文

used to determine the specific gravity of liquids. The ship's master would use this instrument to check the salinity of the seawater, because as his vessel sailed from warm tropical waters to colder northern waters its buoyancy increased, thus allowing him to take on more cargo.