Fitzroy Storm Glass

Do you like your scientific discoveries “old skool”? If you’re a fan of the old key and kite trick, apples landing on your head, and focusing the sun’s rays with mirrors to set your enemy’s ship on fire – then Fitzroy’s Storm Glass is going to be right up your alley!

Invented by Robert Fitzroy, Fitzroy’s storm glass was used on Charles Darwin’s (you know, the father of evolution) voyage on the HMAS Beagle to predict the weather. A mixture of distilled water, ethanol, potassium nitrate, ammonium chloride and camphor (in what proportions we’re not sure), the state of the liquid is said to reflect the state of the weather; for instance, clear glass equals clear weather, cloudy glass equals cloudy weather, cloudy with small stars equals thunderstorms.

Obviously it’s not going to be anywhere near as accurate as your all-singing, all-dancing Bluetooth digital remote weather station – but if you’ve interested enough in the weather to have a digital weather station then no doubt you’ll be fascinated by its low-tech forebear. Apart from anything else, it’s a great decorator piece and a wonderful conversation starter (after all, it gives you a legitimate reason to mention the weather).

Whether you’re an amateur meteorologist or someone looking for a very cool executive gift – why not order the Fitzroy’s Storm Glass, it’s a lot safer than flying a kite and waiting to be hit by lightning!

Product Specifications

Product features:

• Crystals form as the weather changes
• Used by seafares to predict storms at sea
• 23 cm hand-blown glass
• Used by Captain Fitzroy on the voyage of the HMS Beagle