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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: CuriousCollector on October 22, 2010, 07:46:39 AM

Title: Glass refrigerator thermometer
Post by: CuriousCollector on October 22, 2010, 07:46:39 AM

Another item found in FIL's storage unit.  I love this little thing!  It's a glass stand with a cardboard insert with the thermometer tacked to the cardboard.  It's about 4.5" high.  It appears to be a give-away, as the back has warning about keeping food cool (below 50 degrees), a message from the National Food Preservation Program, Southwest Georgia Council.

(http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af285/HowTownGirl/DSC03317.jpg)

The red "mercury"? has a break in the middle for some reason, although the thermometer appears intact.  Without that break, it reads accurately.

(http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af285/HowTownGirl/DSC03318.jpg)

Any ideas on value? -- and any ideas on how I can get the separated pieces of mercury (was mercury ever red?) to combine?

Title: Re: Glass refrigerator thermometer
Post by: fancypants on October 22, 2010, 10:08:31 AM

Cool little item , CC .

The liquid within your thermo is alcohol with dye in it , not mercury .

Mercury ore is generally red , but mercury is always silver-colored in it's liquid form .

Altho I'm unclear about the unit (is it sealed or open-bottomed?) , you should be able to gently heat it enough for the alcohol to reach the maximum temp on the scale (do this with a blow-drier , or warm water if the unit is sealed) . This should re-incorporate all of the liquid ; if not , just do the procedure in the following sentence .

While the unit is still warm , 'shake-down' the thermometer (with a sort of snap of the wrist) towards the bottom of the unit .

This should re-incorporate all of the liquid , sans the present air gap .

Title: Re: Glass refrigerator thermometer
Post by: KC on October 22, 2010, 11:44:22 AM

I miss old thermometers!  

I can remember when they would "accidentally" break...and we would play with the mercury!  Little did we know back then about the dangers of mercury!  (Maybe that is why I am the way I am today! Hmmmmmm)

Seems to be from the mid 1900's....maybe a little earlier.

Title: Re: Glass refrigerator thermometer
Post by: CuriousCollector on October 25, 2010, 04:08:00 PM

KC - I think the 50s sounds right -- the text and logo has that kind of look to it.  Also, there was a big push in the rural areas from the 30s to the 60s to improve a lot of areas related to nutrition, birth weights, etc. 

Thanks again, everyone!