General Information

Serial #

2170-TX

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

glass tube/ brass? frame/ rubber bumper/ synthetic sealant/ mercury?

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

7.8 cm

Width

7.2 cm

Height

42.5 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Meteorology

Category

Atmospheric temperature measurement

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Palmer

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Ohio

City

Cincinnati

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

this thermometer was apparently in use for 25 years (Ref. 3)

Canada

Part of a large collection of meteorological instruments acquired from the Meteorological Service of Canada (previously Atmospheric Environment Service) by the CSTM since 1967. MSC is the government agency responsible for collecting and disseminating meteorological data and forecasts in Canada. It was founded in 1871 in Toronto where it is still headquartered. The MSC was originally on the University of Toronto downtown campus but moved to Downsview in 1971 on land owned by UofT. The headquarters houses laboratories, research facilities and calibration and instrument maintenance facilities (now largely contracted out).

Function

An instrument used to measure temperature by means of its effect on a column of mercury in glass, mounted in a sea temperature bucket for use in measuring water temperature.

Technical

An American made water temperature thermometer in a metal frame and with a rubber bumper. Surface water temperatures are measured on ships as part of the meteorological observations. Surface water temperature is an important source of energy for the atmosphere and is needed for computer forecast models. The thermometer is attached to a rope and is thrown forward along the side of the moving ship. The cup at the bottom retains some of the water so that the thermometer does not change in temperature while being raised and read (Ref. 1). This sea temperature bucket is not one of the types used by MSC in the 1950's to 1970's; those included the B.M.O. (British Meteorological Office) and D.W.D. sea water temperature buckets (Ref. 2).

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

incised lettering on frame reads 'PALMER (R)/ CIN. O./ U.S.A.'/ white lettering on adhesive label on frame reads '2170-TX'

Missing

complete

Finish

gold coloured metal frame with metallic handle/ clear, colourless glass thermometer tube with white back and metallic bulb/ black

Decoration

N/A