A brass Negretti & Zambra Desktop Forecaster, dating from c.1915. It comes complete with its original khaki canvas case. Patented by the firm in 1915 (Patent No: 6276/1915) it was intended to be used in conjunction with a barometer. Featuring three concentric engraved brass rings with instructions for use on the central plate, the N&Z weather forecaster provided a convenient way of accurately predicting the weather. The direction of the wind is first set on the outer ring, noting whether it is rising, falling, or steady and then the central pointer is aligned with the current barometer reading. The setting of these two positions will then reveal a weather reading in the cut-out section of the central plate. This simple and effective system meant that the weather could be forecast swiftly with a good deal of accuracy. These brass desktop versions, with their distinctive easel-type folding stand, were a larger, more expensive, and more accurate version of the celluloid pocket version. Several different versions of the Forecaster were produced, including simple celluloid discs, celluloid with a nickel-plated brass surround, and the larger, solid brass desk types.
Negretti & Zambra: Negretti & Zambra of London were highly successful scientific and optical Instrument makers throughout the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Henry Negretti (1818-1879) and Joseph Zambra (1822-1897) formed their partnership in 1850. The company produced scientific and optical instruments and also had a photographic studio based in London. They were appointed opticians and scientific instrument makers to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, King Edward VII, the Royal Observatory and the British Admiralty. Henry Negretti was the first man to take aerial photographs of London from a balloon. Throughout World War One Negretti and Zambra produced instruments for the Ministry of Munitions and developed many instruments for the Air Ministry, including a mercury-in-steel distance thermometer for taking oil and air temperatures in aircraft which was patented in 1920.
Condition:
In very good original condition and full working order. Retaining much of the lacquered finish to the brass. The rotating discs move well and display the readings correctly. The folding stand is in very good condition and working well. The canvas case is in very good condition.
Dimensions : 120mm (diameter)
