Rare Victorian Sikes’s Hydrometer Set — Joseph Long, London (c.1821–1884)
A beautifully crafted slice of scientific and social history, made by Joseph Long of 20 Little Tower Street, London - official maker to the Inland Revenue and the Indian & Colonial Governments. This is the instrument that once determined the strength of spirits for taxation, long before digital meters and barcodes took over, making it a brilliant display piece for home bars, distilleries, or vintage‑styled interiors.
Housed in its original fitted wooden case, the set includes the elegant brass hydrometer float and its numbered weights, each nestled into its own velvet-lined compartment.
The maker’s plaque is a standout: crisp, ornate, and proudly bearing the royal coat of arms. It’s a tactile reminder of Victorian craftsmanship, distilling traditions, and the meticulous world of early scientific measurement — ideal for collectors, whisky lovers, or anyone who enjoys objects with stories.
Condition is consistent with age, with gentle wear to the case and a lovely patina to the brass. A thermometer is not present and a couple of smaller weights missing, which is common for surviving sets.
Dimensions.(cm)
Case - H - 6.5 / W - 26 / D - 13
Rare Victorian Sikes’s Hydrometer Set — Joseph Long, London (c.1821–1884)
A beautifully crafted slice of scientific and social history, made by Joseph Long of 20 Little Tower Street, London - official maker to the Inland Revenue and the Indian & Colonial Governments. This is the instrument that once determined the strength of spirits for taxation, long before digital meters and barcodes took over, making it a brilliant display piece for home bars, distilleries, or vintage‑styled interiors.
Housed in its original fitted wooden case, the set includes the elegant brass hydrometer float and its numbered weights, each nestled into its own velvet-lined compartment.
The maker’s plaque is a standout: crisp, ornate, and proudly bearing the royal coat of arms. It’s a tactile reminder of Victorian craftsmanship, distilling traditions, and the meticulous world of early scientific measurement — ideal for collectors, whisky lovers, or anyone who enjoys objects with stories.
Condition is consistent with age, with gentle wear to the case and a lovely patina to the brass. A thermometer is not present and a couple of smaller weights missing, which is common for surviving sets.
Dimensions.(cm)
Case - H - 6.5 / W - 26 / D - 13
