A mahogany stick barometer, John Russell, Falkirk, circa 1800

John Russell was born circa 1745, the son of a blacksmith and was probably trained in his father's craft, however by his `ingenuity and industry' he became a fine maker of clocks, watches, musical boxes and barometers. He opened a shop at the top of Kirk Wynd , Falkirk circa 1770 where he built up a good reputation, so much so that he was appointed Watchmaker to the Prince of Wales and, after 1811 when the Regency was established, Watchmaker to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent. He seems to have concentrated on producing only two distinctive types of barometer, one of wheel form decorated with panels of verre églomisé, the other a stick barometer such as the present example which pre-dated the wheel barometer. The distinctive features being the design of the silvered plate, the Corinthian pilaster covering the tube and the oval cistern cover. Only very few examples of both types of barometer have been recorded. John Russell died in 1817.

A very similar barometer is discussed and illustrated in Nicholas Goodison English Barometers 1680-1860 Antique Collectors' Club 1977, reprinted 1985 pgs 228-236