Short and Mason Barograph Value Guide

Founded in London in 1875, Short and Mason became a premier manufacturer of precision meteorological instruments, with their barographs representing the pinnacle of Edwardian and interwar engineering. These devices are highly collectible for their intricate clockwork-driven drums and the elegant mahogany cases that housed their sensitive aneroid capsules.

What Is Short and Mason Barograph Worth?

The typical price range for Short and Mason Barograph is $1,900 - $2,100 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Operational status of the clockwork drum and the responsiveness of the aneroid capsules to pressure changes.
• The condition of the mahogany case, specifically the absence of cracks in the wood or chips in the bevelled glass.
• Completeness of the set, including the original ink bottle, glass dropper, and a supply of period-appropriate paper charts.
• The presence of original brass hardware and the lack of corrosive pitting on the metal recording components.

How to Identify Short and Mason Barograph?

• Look for the 'Short & Mason, London' maker's mark engraved on the brass base plate or the clockwork drum.
• Verify the presence of a series of stacked aneroid capsules connected to a long, delicate steel recording arm.
• Inspect the case for high-quality mahogany construction with original bevelled glass panels and a small drawer for storing spare charts.
• Check for the characteristic ink-filled pen nib and the brass winding key associated with the internal clockwork mechanism.

History of Short and Mason Barograph

Short and Mason was founded in London in 1875 and became one of the most prestigious makers of barometers, compasses, and weather recording instruments in the world. Their barographs were essential for monitoring atmospheric pressure changes, featuring a clockwork-driven drum that rotates a paper chart while a series of aneroid capsules move an ink-filled pen to record the weather trends over a week.