Object number
57/424/1-5
Creator
Description
Chondrometer used to ascertain the quality of grain. Made by Frederick Cox of Newgate Street in the City of London, in approximately 1844-1850.
A chondrometer is an instrument used to ascertain the quality of grain. It consists of a stand, scale and bucket, all in hinged box. The bucket holds an exact volume of grain, which is weighed by moving the scale, and comparison with other grains can then be made. It formerly belonged to the donor's father-in-law at Cheltenham, and it was made by Frederick Cox of Newgate Street in the City of London, in approximately 1844-1850.
Physical description
Chondrometer in box: wood, metal
Archival history
MERL ‘Associated information’ form – 'Chondrometer // [pencil sketch] // Age // ?1844-1850 // Who made it and where? // Frederick Cox... Newgate St., London (see back of form) // Who used it and where? // Not known. Belonged to father-in-law (Robert Baylis died 1928) // How was it used (if not obvious) // To ascertain quality of grain by inspection only // Any other information // Family of BAYLIS is located in Gloucestershire/Worcestershire area. // (Robert Baylis came after Cheltenham). There was a Corn Merchant in London in the 1820-1840s called Baylis located in the Borough district but this inform. comes from trade directories for these years + there is no family tree on the subject. // a) Re Frederick Cox // I've checked the trade directories at the Institute of Historical Research, Univ. of London and he seems to have been an optician. He appears in the directories 1844 + 1847 but not 1840 (Post Office Classified Directories). I assume the balance was made some time after 1840 and probably before 1850. // (1) because of above information // (2) the reference to "Her Majesty" in the notice on the lid // (3) the use of the adjective "new" in connection with the Imperial Standard. // b) There were several Baylis's in various trades in the City of London, Westminster & Southwark in the period 1820-1850 but only one described as Corn Merchant or Corn dealer and he was established at an address in the Borough. The others included a baker, an orange-importer, a fishmonger & a [?]smith. There is no family history about the occupations of any relatives in this period. Robert Baylis above-mentioned was an unqualified accountant in the building trade at one stage but not associated with the cereal business as far as we know.'
Production place
Newgate Street [City of London]
Production date
1844 - 1850
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_2237.tif - High resolution image
