HISTORY:
Barostar Precision Instrument began operations in Morteau, in Franche-Comté (Eastern France) with this region being considered as a leading region in France for micro-technology. Barostar actually began designing precision watches but then moved into the design of precision barometer movements. In the 1980's Barostar ceased its production of watches and focused on meteorological instruments. In 1999 Barostar was acquired by Altitude and some 14 years later, Altitude was acquired by Delite.
Many Barostar instruments can still be found, in both the consumer and nautical marketplaces. Barostar are well considered for their build quality and accuracy.
This instrument was intended for the "up market" consumer who wanted a reliable weather station that also looked great hanging on the wall.
This banjo weatherstation does not fail to please on the latter score, made from SOLID (not fake stained composite timber or a hideous veneer!) This case is solid Mahogany timber finished with a clear high gloss.
Decorative metalwork is Brass.
The banjo style (named because of the overall shape) of weather stations all share a common layout, temperature at the top, barometer in the centre and hygrometer at the bottom.
We had a couple of these weatherstations, a very similar instrument from Germany (long since found a new home) and now I have decided this French weatherstation also needs a new home to live in.
Totally mechanical/chemical in operation, no clockwork, no batteries, no solar energy, no internet required!
If the internet fails or your Telco network fails and B.O.M fails to tell you what is happening/expected to happen, then you can look at your trusty Barostar "Weather Station" to get an idea what you can expect to be happening with the weather.
BAROSTAR PRECISION INSTRUMENT - Weather Station
Made in France
Circa 1980's ~ 1990's
ALL English labelling - we feel this Weather Station was aimed at the UK market and actually we purchased this in Scotland originally.
Wall hanging (hangs on a hook or screw already in the wall)
Wall supporting weight: 650g
DIMENSIONS:
480mm tall
165mm wide (across the Barometer face at the widest point)
40mm thickness
THREE SECTIONS:
Thermometer - Air Temperature
Barometer - Barometric pressure
Hygrometer - Humidity
The Hygrometer is branded Hygrostar, Barostar's own trade name
THERMOMETER:
Uses blue liquid (Isoamyl benzoate and dye) which is NON-TOXIC, unlike Mercury (do not ever touch liquid Mercury - it does very nasty things to the human body), to indicate the air temperature.
Reads from Minus 5 ~ Plus 50 Celsius
Single mode, meaning this thermometer scale only measures Celsius
Checked and working with good accuracy and high response rate (rapid changes reflected in the thermometer readings very quickly)
BAROMETER:
Measures the air pressure and the changes that are occuring. Dual scale, hPa and millibars. The outer scale gives a lot of guides as to what the weather may be doing ... Rain, Change, Fair, Very Dry, Stormy, Much-Rain (! we really never knew what this mean't exactly, generally water coming in under the front door told us there was too much rain)
In general terms, increasing pressure is a good thing and low pressure is not so great but it is also important to see the CHANGES in the air pressure. For example a sudden drop from a high air pressure to a much lower air pressure over a short period of time would tend to indicate the "TAKE COVER NOW!" the weather is about to get very nasty!
Checked over the previous week after taking it down from the hallway wall and it is working fine - measured regularly against the official weather readings from Bureau Of Meterology in our area of Western Sydney.
HYGROMETER:
Measures the amount of water vapour in the air, the humidity. At the moment the humidity is sitting around 55% and the scale also helps you out as it has a "band" of normal readings indicated from 50% ~ 75%
Just like the barometer, I compared these reading with the information provided by B.O.M and they were very close indeed.
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Solid timber banjo frame is in very very good condition, the Mahogany timber (NOT STAINED!) has NO observable scratches or marks at all - front/sides or the back. I would have expected this because it has just been sitting on the wall for the last 30 years!
How do you know it is REAL Mahogany? Grains don't lie and this timber has the distinctive Mahogany grain ...
The brass surrounds on the Thermometer, Barometer and Hygrometer are clean and shiny without oxidisation being evident - even that solid Brass top decorative "knob" is in shiny, pristine condition (we dusted it!)
The glass dial faces on all three instruments are clean and easy to read.
NO damage to the glass thermometer, Barometer face or Hygrometer face.
The rear is clean and there is only the Quality Control sticker on the rear - all identification is on the Barometer face.
TESTING:
As mentioned above, all three instruments have been checked against the B.O.M. weather observations, readings made three times each day over a one week period. No abnomilies observed, you can trust what this weather station is telling you.
Don't understand Weather Station "language"? or how to set it up (easy) - take a look around online to get the in's and out's of being your own Weather Person.
To maintain the very nice case and the glass faces of the three instruments, I have now wrapped it safely in bubblewrap and then sealed completely (airtight) within a clear plastic packaging - ready for a new home to live in!
