This is an early Edwardian Oak barograph retailed by Leighton & Son of Lancaster. The mechanism is signed on the brass cross bar ‘Pat No. 22556’ which refers to the patent issued to Short & Mason in 1904 stating ‘use of aneroid underneath slab and easier to adjust’. This style of instrument was popular in the United States and made under licence by Taylor Instruments of New York, an associate company of Short & Mason. Uses standard recording charts – a selection will be included together with a fresh bottle of recording ink. See extracts illustrating this barograph from Taylor Instruments book ‘Weather’ 1912 and from Taylor Instruments catalogue dated September 1920 and describing this barograph as 'the very latest device for automatically registering weather changes and the new style of chart makes it possible to get immediately information on what to expect'.
I have also added the title page of an earlier book, Weather and Weather Instruments also by Taylor dated 1908 with the picture on page 8 with the brilliant text below-
'Barograph with Concealed "Works"!
317mm wide x 190mm high x 175mm deep.