Paterson Thermometer

Mick Fagan said:

I started using electronic thermometers around 40 years ago when using industrial film processing equipment. They were so much easier and quicker and supposedly more accurate; but the cost was prohibitive.

In 1991 I bought a new manufacturing process for my business, which required very accurate temperature monitoring. To that end I picked up a $1,000 USD (or thereabouts) electronic thermometer with supposedly fantastic accuracy. It was certainly good enough for the job and by changing to a different probe, I also started using it for my photography. I was hooked on electronic thermometers.

Today I have a very cheap, reliable splash proof electronic thermometer for my photography. It is simple and is now what I use exclusively for photography, cost was around $20 AUD when I purchased it around 5-6 years ago.

This is very similar, if not identical to what I have.

Waterproof Thermometer - Ravi Scientific Industries

Measuring Range -50~300 C/-58~572 Resolution 0.1°C Accuracy ±1 Function °C & °F unit selectable With Probe cover Power Source 1 x 1.5v (LR44) Packing

www.raviscientific.in

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koraks said:

This is common with alcohol thermometers. Actually, it used to happen with mercury thermometers, too, but these were even easier to 'fix' by just forcefully whipping the thermometer a couple of times so that centrifugal forces push the liquid back towards the end. This works with alcohol thermometers as well, but a little less so than with the old mercury ones.

Sometimes, the liquid won't reunite whatever you try and at that point your thermometer is toast. It tends to happen if you overheat it so that the liquid expands all the way up the column, or when the thermometer is being subjected to shocks (e.g. by dropping it).

I don't think any impact of this on its accuracy is worth losing any sleep over. Especially for B&W it won't matter much at all, if the accuracy is affected in the first place, which I doubt.

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