A William IV/early Victorian mahogany bowfronted mercury cistern tube marine stick barometer James Bassnett, Liverpool, circa 1840 With concave moulded surmount and cavetto cornice above bow-glazed canted ivory Vernier register plates annotated with the usual observations and signed JAMES BASSNETT, LIVERPOOL to lower left hand corner, the trunk with Vernier adjustment screw and brass gimbal pivots above glazed ivory Fahrenheit scale mercury tube thermometer, the base with moulded cylindrical lacquered brass cistern cover incorporating brass level adjustment screw to underside, 94cm (37ins) high. James Bassnett is recorded in Clifton, Gloria Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851 as an optician, clock and chronometer maker working from 4 Barnes Court, Shaws Brow, Liverpool 1829-34 and then from several addresses in Robert Street until 1857 when the firm became known Bassnett and Son.