Hi Ben,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Troughton & Simms of London were primarily elite scientific instrument makers, not decorative barometer retailers in the usual sense. They specialized in astronomical instruments (transit telescopes, mural circles), geodetic and surveying equipment (theodolites, levels), precision measurement standards and, importantly for you, high-grade barometers and meteorological instruments.

Their barometers were typically scientific-grade or institutional instruments, not mass-produced domestic decorative pieces.

The firm was formed in 1826, when Edward Troughton partnered with William Simms. Edward Troughton came from a dynasty of London instrument makers dating to the 1700s. He had already supplied instruments to the Royal Observatory at Greenwich . Simms brought advanced precision engineering and circle-dividing techniques.

The firm added "Ltd" to their name in 1915; in 1922, the company changed its name to Cooke, Troughton & Simms, so this barometer was made between 1826 and 1915.

This barometer has the broken swan's neck pediment typical of George III barometers but because the company was not formed until the reign of George IV (who reigned from just 1820 to 1830, then was succeeded by his brother William IV, 1830-1837), and definitely is not "Victorian" in style, the style would be called George/William IV.

With changing restrictions and regulations surrounding shipping and transporting barometers (both antique and modern) with mercury, the market for antique barometers has slipped a bit. Most auction houses will still sell them but there may be restrictions in your state about purchasing them or having them shipped into, out of or within and, accordingly, most auction houses price barometers they are selling quite conservatively, rarely above $1,000.

If you're interested in selling this or any of the other barometers you've asked us to appraise, you might reach out to British born barometer dealer John Forster, who owns Barometer Fair in Sarasota, Florida. He buys and sells all barometer varieties (stick, wheel, banjo and aneroid) and is well-known in the antiques business for paying fair prices (and you'd avoid paying an auctioneer a commission to sell them). Other US-based barometer dealers include The Barometer Shop (Rockport, Maine) and The Weather Store (Sandwich, Mass).

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

An antique George IV/William IV mahogany bowfront stick barometer
made by Troughton & Simms, London, circa 1826-36
With broken swan's neck pediment centering a brass acorn-form finial, engraved silvered brass plate with register, the waisted case with ivory key and applied mercury box with scale, terminating in a circular cistern with applied roundel facing.
38 inches overall length
CONDITION: this appears to be in good cosmetic condition; not examined or warranted to be in working condition
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$500-700 *
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia