A Weather Glass Is An Age Old Barometer

I took a picture of our weather glass this morning. Later, in the day, our weather glass let us know by the water coming up and out the spout that we needed to batten down the hatches as a storm was coming. Sure enough, as I write this, the storm is here. Having been around for almost four centuries the weather glass has endured the test of time. A simple device, but one enjoyed around the world because of it's ability to predict storms and changes in weather. Also known as a Goethe Barometer they can be beautifully designed and crafted, easy to use and a fun conversation piece helping to make this a timeless gift.

Although Evangelista Torricelli is universally credited with inventing the barometer in 1643, historical documentation also suggests Gasparo Berti, an Italian mathematician and astronomer, unintentionally built a water barometer sometime between 1640 and 1643. - The Wikipedia

"We have had ours for a number of years and always enjoy checking the water level to see what kind of weather is coming..."

Although you can fill these with colored water we prefer purified water as they stay cleaner. We usually change the water about once a year. We have white vinegar on hand and add a small amount to help clean the glass and prevent water spots or rings. Fill to about one inch above where the spout meets the bottle. They can be slick when wet so hold on carefully when you fill them.

We like the Authentic Model brand of these for that time honored look. They can be hung from a leather strap or many other kinds of hangers including wood or metal or the material of your choice. On one rare occurrence we had a fly make its way into the weather glass and get stuck. Flies can get pretty wacky if they are inside too long.

Links:

1Authentic Models Weather Glass ...

2Authentic Models Weather Glass Instructions ...

3Barometer - Weather Glass on the Wikipedia...