SHIPPING
Firstly, don't just package up your barometer and send it to us. There is great potential for damage in the shipping process if the instrument isn't prepared and protected properly, and secondly we don't want to have it here until we're ready to start the estimating and the work. Thanks for understanding.
Not all mercury barometers can be shipped, and there are several reasons for this.
(1) Some barometers can have their mercury systems sealed up adequately to stand the rigors of shipping, but many can't. Almost all dial (wheel, banjo) barometers can be safely prepared to ship and will get through the process safely. Ditto some types of stick barometers. Unfortunately, many types of stick barometers, ship's barometers, Fitzroy barometers, and scientific (Fortin) barometers were never made to be shipped without special preparation. We may be able to help you, from a distance, to prepare these barometers for safe shipping but please contact us first and we'll work through it.
(2) We use Federal Express for most of our shipping. They have no restriction on shipping objects with less than one pound of mercury in them, but it still requires very careful packing to prevent the mercury from being spilled throughout the package, a problem that will need cleanup and will add to your restoration charges, and which may also result in ruining the silvering on dials and faces. Again, contact us first.
(3) Mercury can not be transported by air, in any quantity, by any shipping service unless the shipper has a formal hazardous materials agreement with the carrier. All transport must be by ground service.
If you want, we can send out a crate with all the proper instructions and packing materials in it to safely transport your barometer. It's a bit of extra work and expense, but it does give peace of mind for a valuable object.
Please, contact us first and we will work out the shipping in both directions. In some cases we may be able to collect and deliver the barometer if time and distance permit.
WE DON'T
(540) 967-0416 •