The World Of Rain Gauges Virtual Museum
Welcome to the world of rain gauges Virtual Museum you will find a selection of vintage rain gauges from various instruments makers and some information about the rain gauges.
Historical Overview of Rain Gauges
The gauge consists of a copper funnel, an outer can and an internal collector. The rim is one foot off the ground to prevent in-splashing.Regular monitoring of rainfall in Britain was stimulated by a run of unusually dry years in the 1850s. Meteorologist George James Symons was instrumental in establishing a network of hundreds of observers who reported their observations back to him for publication, in a initiative partly funded by the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Symons conducted tests of different rain gauge designs, and recommended this five-inch-diameter design as the standard device. The Rain gauge with five inch diameter of the type adopted by the British Rainfall Organisation and the Meteorological Office.
Negretti & Zambra
Negretti & Zambra founded in London in 1850 by Enrico Negretti and Joseph Zambra were the preeminent scientific instrument makers of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Appointed instrument makers to Queen Victoria the Royal Observatory and the British Meteorological Office their rain gauges are renowned for exceptional foundry casting heavy gauge copper construction and precise machining.
Met Office
The Met Office MK II is the benchmark 5-inch standard manual rain gauge used throughout the 20th century across the UK observing network. Historic British scientific instrument manufacturers including w.rollason and Casella produced these to strict Meteorological Office specifications
Casella London snowdon rain gauge
Casella London 979
Casella of london produced some of the most iconic precision crafted rain gauges in meteorological history. Founded originally in 1810 by Louis Casella and later operating as C.F. Casella & Co. the firm served as official makers to the British Admiralty the Meteorological Office and observational networks worldwide.
Casella London snowdon rain gauge
Casella London the snowdon rain gauge W5004 made without the inner can just the glass bottle
In the display case we have a weather donkey. novelty weather forecaster. A classic piece of mid-century seaside souvenir "If tail is dry - Fine. If tail is wet - Rain. If tail moves - Windy." and a 5 inch rain funnel.
Make unknown
Our historic copper rain gauge collection a tribute to the art, science, and history of rainfall measurement. Long before automated sensors and digital displays, meteorologists relied on the enduring beauty and precision of hand-crafted copper instruments to record the sky’s patterns. Each piece in this collection tells a story. From turned brass edge rims designed for millimeter precision to deep patinas forged by decades in the elements.
Joseph Long
Joseph Long operating out of Little Tower Street, London during the 19th century was a premier British scientific instrument maker. While widely known for hydrometers and gauging rules the firm manufactured high specification brass and copper meteorological apparatus including heavy gauge copper pluviometers.
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