A pocket barometer is a portable instrument that measures atmospheric pressure, which can be used to make short-term weather forecasts. It typically uses a sealed, flexible metal capsule (aneroid capsule) or a sealed, evacuated cylinder to measure pressure. Changes in pressure due to weather conditions cause the capsule or cylinder to expand or contract and this movement is displayed on a dial or needle.

A guy called John Lizar founded the company that bears his name in 1830, based in Glasgow initially they produced optical instruments primarily, later progressing to telescopes, microscopes, thermometers and barometers, a nice little example of which we have here in the collection.

This particular one was kindly donated by our good friend Klaus Schwartz, who worked at Loch Eil Outward Bound for several years in the 1970s, the Matron there at the time was Mrs M Strachan, the barometer had belonged to her husband, W H Strachan, who it seems had used it during the Second World War to see what the weather was doing – thanks all round.