Victorian ‘weather station’ by James Henry Steward gifted to Thomas Sopwith, estimate £1500-2000 at Dreweatts.
Made by the London maker James Henry Steward of the Strand and Cornhill, the 2ft 3in (68cm) wide instrument includes a timepiece, thermometer, barometer and a paper roll and pencil to record changes in barometric pressure and carries a silver presentation plaque indicating it was a gift from the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1873 to Thomas Sopwith (1803-79).
Portrait of Thomas Sopwith offered together with the Victorian ‘weather station’ by James Henry Steward gifted to him, estimate £1500-2000 at Dreweatts.
Pictured above in an oil on canvas portrait (included with the lot) by W Robert Dickinson, Sopwith initially worked with Richard Grainger in the redevelopment of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and later as a railway engineer assisting Robert Stephenson with the creation of the French railway network and surveys for the construction of the Sambre-Meuse Line in Belgium.
His grandson, also called Thomas, founded the Sopwith Aviation Company based at Brooklands.
Estimate in the auction of Fine Clocks, Barometers and Scientific Instruments on March 7 is £1500-2000.
