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Antique Short & Mason Pocket Barometer / Altimeter for A&ncs
Sold by The Vintage Wrist Watch Company
sold SA1189349
Sorry, but this item has been sold.
The Vintage Wrist Watch Company

The Vintage Wrist Watch Company

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jul 2011
Browse dealers 260 items
  • About Us
    Specialists in antique and vintage wrist watches and pocket watches
Id #SA1189349
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Antique Short & Mason Pocket Barometer / Altimeter for A&ncs

1900 - 1920
Sold 14 February 2026 · The Vintage Wrist Watch Company
This “Antique Short & Mason Pocket Barometer / Altimeter for A&ncs” found a buyer.

It was listed by The Vintage Wrist Watch Company. Sold pieces stay on Sellingantiques as a record of what has passed through, and the next one is rarely far away.

Description

Antique Short & Mason pocket barometer / altimeter for A&NCS.

The barometer is in beautiful condition, as though it has hardly ever been used. It has a gilt finish which is in super condition, just very light marking to the back. 50mm diameter excluding the stem and loop.

The glass lens is in excellent condition too.

The dial is signed with the name of the manufacturer, Short & Mason, London, a prestigious precision instrument manufacturer, founded in 1845 by Thomas Short and James Mason at Hatton Garden, London. As well as retailing their instruments, they supplied famous explorers including scientific instruments for the ill fated Scott and Shackleton Polar expeditions.

The dial is also signed A&NCS Ltd, which was the Army & Navy Co-Operative Ltd. The Co-Operative was founded in 1871 with a view to supplying members with goods at reduced prices. The membership was reliant on serving within the British military, or being part of a military family.

The outer chapter ring on the dial is marked from 0- 8,000 feet and indicates the height above sea level. The inner ring is marked from 23 to 31 inches and indicates atmospheric pressure in inches of mercury,

To measure your height you rotate the outer chapter ring until the hand is aligned with the zero (assuming you are at sea level), then as you climb, the hand moves due to the fall in air pressure and you will be able to read off the height you have reached.

The barometer automatically adjusts the reading for changes in temperature, thereby giving a more accurate reading. The altimeter is functioning although has not been tested for accuracy.

The barometer comes in its original Moroccan leather case complete with original tag.

Date of Manufacture

The Vintage Wrist Watch Company has dated this Antique Pocket Barometer Altimeter to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1189349
Dealers Notes

ALL PRICES INCLUDE UK POSTAGE (because of GPSR legislation, we no longer post items less than 100 years old to Europe, including Northern Ireland).

Please contact us regarding international shipping.

All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

We are a VAT registered company and all purchases are covered by Consumer Regulations.

Credit / debit card purchases up to £300 can be made over the telephone on 01386 750238 or you can proceed via the 'Purchase Antique' button on each listing page. Alternatively, there is a Paypal payment link if you scroll down the page and we also accept bank transfers.

We are an on-line only business and do not have facilities for callers. Our offices are open from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

With regards to appraisals / valuations, we receive a huge number of information requests each day and unfortunately do not have the manpower to deal with them all individually. Our advice would be to contact a local auctioneer for a full appraisal.

Description
Antique Short & Mason pocket barometer / altimeter for A&NCS.

The barometer is in beautiful condition, as though it has hardly ever been used. It has a gilt finish which is in super condition, just very light marking to the back. 50mm diameter excluding the stem and loop.

fig 1. A close-up shot of a round brass pocket barometer altimeter inside an open red leather case lined with green velvet.
fig 1. Antique Short & Mason Pocket Barometer / Altimeter for A&ncs

The glass lens is in excellent condition too.

“
The dial is signed with the name of the manufacturer, Short & Mason, London, a prestigious precision instrument manufacturer, founded in 1845 by Thomas Short and James Mason at Hatton Garden, London.
The Vintage Wrist Watch Company

As well as retailing their instruments, they supplied famous explorers including scientific instruments for the ill fated Scott and Shackleton Polar expeditions.

fig 2. A close-up shot of a round brass pocket barometer altimeter inside an open red leather case lined with green velvet.
fig 2. Antique Short & Mason Pocket Barometer / Altimeter for A&ncs

The dial is also signed A&NCS Ltd, which was the Army & Navy Co-Operative Ltd. The Co-Operative was founded in 1871 with a view to supplying members with goods at reduced prices. The membership was reliant on serving within the British military, or being part of a military family.

fig 3. A close-up shot of a round brass pocket barometer altimeter inside an open red leather case lined with green velvet.
fig 3. Antique Short & Mason Pocket Barometer / Altimeter for A&ncs

The outer chapter ring on the dial is marked from 0- 8,000 feet and indicates the height above sea level. The inner ring is marked from 23 to 31 inches and indicates atmospheric pressure in inches of mercury,

To measure your height you rotate the outer chapter ring until the hand is aligned with the zero (assuming you are at sea level), then as you climb, the hand moves due to the fall in air pressure and you will be able to read off the height you have reached.

The barometer automatically adjusts the reading for changes in temperature, thereby giving a more accurate reading. The altimeter is functioning although has not been tested for accuracy.

The barometer comes in its original Moroccan leather case complete with original tag.

Date of Manufacture

The Vintage Wrist Watch Company has dated this Antique Pocket Barometer Altimeter to the 1910s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1189349
The Vintage Wrist Watch Company
The Vintage Wrist Watch Company
Sellingantiques verified Since Jul 2011

Specialists in antique and vintage wrist watches and pocket watches

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the The Vintage Wrist Watch Company Profile Page

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A close-up shot of a round brass pocket barometer altimeter inside an open red leather case lined with green velvet. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO
1 / 4
Archive I A close-up shot of a round brass pocket barometer altimeter inside an open red leather case lined with green velvet. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO

Antique Short & Mason Pocket Barometer / Altimeter for A&ncs

Archive II A close-up shot of a round brass pocket barometer altimeter inside an open red leather case lined with green velvet. View II
Archive III A close-up shot of a round brass pocket barometer altimeter inside an open red leather case lined with green velvet. View III
Archive IV A close-up shot of a round brass pocket barometer altimeter inside an open red leather case lined with green velvet. View IV
Enlarged Archival View
Telephone 01386 750 238
Location
Worcestershire
United Kingdom
Verified Since Jul 2011
Items For Sale 260
Items Sold 6,720
The Vintage Wrist Watch Company
The Vintage Wrist Watch Company
Verified Since Jul 2011
View Dealer Info
Location: Worcestershire, United Kingdom
Verified
Jul 2011
For Sale
260
Sold
6,720
A close-up shot of a round brass pocket barometer altimeter inside an open red leather case lined with green velvet.
Antique Short & Mason pocket barometer / altimeter for A&NCS
Ref: SA1189349
A close-up shot of a round brass pocket barometer altimeter inside an open red leather case lined with green velvet.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Archival Detail
Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.
Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectScientific Instruments
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleEdwardian
  • MaterialBrass, Glass, Leather, Velvet
  • ColourGold
  • MotifsGilt brass case, Enamelled dial, Suspension ring, Hinged leather case

Pocket barometers and altimeters became popular during the Victorian and Edwardian periods as portable instruments for mountaineers, surveyors, and travellers to measure atmospheric pressure and altitude.

These instruments typically feature brass or gilt metal cases, glass crystal dial covers, enamel or silvered metal dials, and are often housed in leather-covered wooden cases lined with velvet or silk.

Authentic pieces usually feature maker signatures, engraved serial numbers, high-quality hand-graduated dials, and mechanical components such as temperature compensation markings, rather than modern stamped metal or plastic.

These compact instruments can be displayed open on a desk, bookshelf, or mantelpiece, adding a touch of historical curiosity and industrial craftsmanship to a room.

Keep the instrument away from direct sunlight, extreme temperature fluctuations, and moisture to prevent corrosion of the brass case and degradation of the delicate internal mechanism.
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