Barometer air mail ?

[EDDIE51]

I have just sold a vintage barometer on ebay, it has to go to Russia .
Suddenly thought ! what happens when it is sent air mail , will the low air pressure in the aircraft damage it ? Should I send it surface mail instead ?
It is the standard anaroid type . Don't want it to arrive damaged.

[ojread2]

If it contains mercury Eddie, RM wont take it full stop

http://www.caa.co.uk/...ostOfficeGuidance.pdf

[237SJ]

I brought a little barometer back in the hold of an aircraft years ago. I don`t know how they all work but it had a little metal coil in it. The coil was made into a feature of it. When I got it back the coil had uncoiled. It must have righted itself because it hung on my Mum`s wall for years after that and worked OK

[EDDIE51]

No mercury, it is the standard dial type with a semi evacuated drum that contracts and expands with the pressure changes. I am concerned that it will go ''off scale'' and be damaged. Are aircraft ''mail holds'' pressurised ?

[ojread2]

Mmm dunno then Eddie

I suspect it will be ok in the hold if there is no glass or anything
I've been looking for you but can't find anything to suggest what is best, sorry

[237SJ]

Depends. Some holds are pressurised and some aren`t. (for example hold 1 on a 747 is kept unpressurised since a cargo door blew off years ago). If it goes on a cargo aircraft, it will be in the cabin anyway. As I said, on my barometer, the little coil unfurled (I presume it was reacting to the lower atmospheric pressure) but it righted itself.

[EDDIE51]

Decided to send it surface mail, which is slightly more than air mail and send a note to the buyer explaining why. Don't know why surface mail is more expensive when it takes up to 30 days instead of 10 days.

[spudqueen]

Surprisingly all surface mail to European countries is more expensive than airmail. I think this is because 99 per cent of mail to Europe goes airmail, they must have to work out a special route for something going surface to Russia!