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This object is an antique Thomson's Special Dairy Thermometer No. 4, a precision instrument from the early 20th century designed for cheesemaking and dairy processing.
(University of Reading)
Identification and Key Features
Purpose: These floating mercury-in-glass thermometers were specifically used in the 1920s to monitor temperatures in dairy and cheese vats.
Design: It features a sealed glass housing designed to float in liquid for easy temperature monitoring. The interior contains a paper scale with specialized markings for dairy-related milestones like freezing, churning, cheese-making, and scalding (pasteurization).
Origin: According to the text on the device, this specific "No. 4" model was made in England. Similar "Thomson's" thermometers from the early 1900s are currently preserved in museum collections, such as the University of Reading's Archive and Museum Database.
Historical Context
Dairy thermometers like this were essential tools before modern automation. They allowed farmers and cheesemakers to ensure that milk was heated to precise temperatures necessary for culturing yogurt or separating curds for cheese.
Safety Note: This is an antique mercury-in-glass thermometer. If the glass is cracked or broken, do not touch the contents, as it contains mercury.
