An authentic U.S. Navy shipboard mercury barometer, serial no. 2682, produced by the W.M. Welch Manufacturing Company in Chicago in 1943. This precision weather instrument features a glass and brass housing with engraved instructions and data plates, including “U.S. Navy – Bu. of Ships.” The barometer’s internal glass tube and mercury reservoir remain intact, with adjustment knobs and mounting hardware preserved within the original protective brass and steel case.
This rare piece of naval instrumentation was used aboard U.S. Navy vessels during WWII to measure barometric pressure for navigation and weather prediction. The craftsmanship and condition make it a striking example of wartime engineering and maritime history.
