• ← Return to News & Events
  • Home
  • Explore
    • →Stories
    • →Exhibitions
    • →Collection
    • →Learn/Research
    • →News & Events
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • About
    • →New Museum
  • Contact
  • Sign In

PO Box 95

Lyttelton 8841

Phone: +64 3 328 8972
Email: info@teuaka.org.nz
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Te Ūaka recognises Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke as Mana Whenua and Mana Moana for Te Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Harbour.

← Return to News & Events
LM barometer Week 30

Barometer. Date made: unknown. Te Ūaka The Lyttelton Museum ref: 4267.2

Museum Object of the Week - Week 30

23 July 2020

This evocative box contains an antique barometer, used to measure air pressure and predict short term changes in the weather. It was donated to Lyttelton Museum by Mark Fennell, a merchant seaman and Master for many years with the Union Steamship Company, and Pacifica, amongst other shipping companies.

The instructions on the wooden case indicate how fragile the instrument is but also the danger of the mercury it contains. A metal with the unique property of being fluid at room temperature, mercury is also toxic and so modern barometers are now safely digital. Antique barometers like ours require careful handling, storage and display.

This is Museum Committee Member Ursula’s pick for #MuseumObjectOfTheWeek. Ursula is intrigued by the mixture of science and history.

Online Collection

Share:

Next News Article:

Week29 1

Museum Object of the Week - Week 29

15 July 2020
Museum
News & Events
Research
Shop
Collection
About
Donate
Exhibitions
Get Involved

PO Box 95

Lyttelton 8841

Phone: +64 3 328 8972
Email: info@teuaka.org.nz
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
Museum
News & Events
Research
Shop
Collection
About
Donate
Exhibitions
Get Involved
Te
Ūaka

Subscribe

Be the first to know
about Lyttelton Museum
news and events