Scarce Pocket Barometer Altimeter by Lufft No 449 c.1925

A very good scarce aneroid pocket barometer altimeter by G. Lufft Metallbarometerfabrik GMBH, Stuttgart c.1925. Pocket barometer having 1¾” silvered and die struck dial, the outer bezel rotated altitude scale calibrated in feet with a range from 0 – 16,000ft divided down to 100ft, the inner barometric scale calibrated in inches of mercury with a range from 16” – 30” divided to 1/10”. The lower centre signed by the retailer, “Rob. Brennecke, Interlaken,” with maker’s logogram below. Blued steel pointer, bevelled glass. Conventional Vidie pattern movement driven from a single 1” capsule tensioned on a C spring. The whole contained within a semi barrel form lacquered brass case, calibration port to verso, pendant and bow. The dial verso and case marked with serial no. “449.” Presented in a brown faux leather timber framed case internally lined with green silk and velvet. Spring catch on a button release.   Condition: Fully serviced, conserved and calibrated under laboratory conditions, see performance chart from dynamic test. The movement working well across the normal range. The dial clear and crisp, very fine scratch visible only in critical light, some similarly minor marks. The outer brass case retaining virtually all its original lacquered finish. The travel case sound with good external colour, the interior remaining clean with good vibrancy.   Comments: Imperial scaled instruments of this type from this manufacturer must be considered scarce. Overall a very good example. Gotthilf Lufft (1848-1921) founded "Mech. Werkstatt G. Lufft" in Stuttgart in 1881, specialising in barometers and other meteorological instruments, and the company continues today. Robert Brennecke was an optician and jeweller working from Jungfraustrasse in Interlaken, Switzerland from 1896 until 1956.