Large Antique Ships Barometer, John Lilley & Sons - London & North Shields, Bulkhead, Maritime  

Dated around 1920's 

Solid brass barrel case, which would have been chromed originally, which is now worn. 

Working order

Original bevelled glass face

Rare rotating bezel face, which moves the point arrow, which is attached to the bezel side.  

20.5cm overall diameter x 9cm approx

In 1812, John Lilley and Son, nautical instrument, magnetic compass, sextant and telescope manufacturer, was founded in London by a 24 year old optician named John Lilley.

John Wilson Gillie founded Wilson & Gillie, also magnetic compass and nautical instrument makers, in North Shields in 1885. Throughout his career, John Wilson Gillie patented many improvements to the magnetic compass and binnacle.

In 1910 the firm of John Lilley and Son (which had been established in London in 1812), found themselves in financial difficulties and were saved with the help of John Wilson Gillie, who established, on 8 August 1911, a new firm of John Lilley and Son Limited. John Lilley and Son had been the sole London agents for Sir William Thomson, a very enviable position during this period, when the Thomson compass led the field. Unfortunately, Mr. Lilley had quarrelled with the Glasgow company, who withdrew the agency and established their own branch in London (later to become Kelvin White and Hutton).

On November 7, 1913, the firm of John Lilley and Son Limited of London amalgamated with Wilson and Gillie of North Shields, and after this date instruments manufactured by the two companies bore the name John Lilley and Son Limited of London and North Shields.

During the 1930s many of the London nautical instrument makers were in difficulties, including John Lilley and Son Limited and Reynolds and Son, Dobbie and Clyde Limited, and Mr. J.W. Gillie arranged an amalgamation between these two companies. The new firm became Lilley and Reynolds Limited.

Good used condition for age and application, with some superficial marks, wear and tarnishing.