Vintage Polished Chromed Brass Square Rototherm Desk Thermometer

A gorgeous Vintage Polished Chromed Brass Square Rototherm Desk Thermometer, dating to the 1930s/40s. It has a lovely face, with an easy to read dial, and measures from -20 to 140 ºF.

Made by the British Rototherm Co. Ltd, London, England, British Patent Number 378314: patent dating to 1932.

A ‘must have’ item for the man cave, she den, study or office. It measures temperature in Fahrenheit and is encased in a Polished Chromed brass surround, with a hinged stepped plinth, which allows the viewing angle to be optimised so that it displays nicely on an office desk or mantelpiece. 

The bimetallic thermometer is in good working order. The polished chrome is slightly pitted, particularly on the rear, and the face has slightly yellowed. Beautifully made from chromed brass, its actually quite heavy for its size! 

Approximate Dimensions:

• Plinth Depth: 5cm (2")
• Plinth Length: 7.6cm (3″)
• Height (Plinth and Thermometer in the vertical position): 11cm
• Width/Height of thermometer face including the surround: 8cm x 8cm

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NB: The photos have been taken with and without flash hence the differences in colour.

Bimetallic Thermometer

Rototherm invented the bimetallic thermometer in 1934. The thermometer has a metal pointer that moves up and down a circular scale. The pointer is mounted on a coiled piece of metal called a bimetallic strip. The hotter the temperature, the more the bimetallic strip expands, and the more it pushes the pointer up the scale.