Barometers Realm

Antoine Redier, born on December 25, 1817 in Perpignan, in the Eastern Pyrenees, was the son of a watchmaker and began his professional path in his father’s workshop. His inventive talent manifested early: while still a student, he designed a specialized compass for dividing a circle into any number of equal parts. Recognizing his potential, the eminent scientist François Arago, a friend of the family, arranged for him to study in Paris at the École d’Horlogerie (School of Watchmaking), under the guidance of Frédéric Perrelet.

Upon graduation, Redier worked for three years with Henri Robert, another distinguished horologist. During this period, he met the optician-engineer Duplex, to whom he sold one of his earliest inventions — a mechanical device — in exchange for the money needed to buy his military exemption. This allowed him to dedicate himself entirely to horology. In 1842, he took over the Duchemin workshop on Place du Châtelet in Paris and later renamed it “Maison Redier & Cie.” There he began producing a series of highly original and commercially successful innovations, including the first loud alarm clock and ultra-flat pocket watches.

These inventions quickly gained public favor, contributing to a revolution in horology. By 1858, Redier’s factory in Saint-Nicolas-d’Aliermont had become a major center of French watch production, manufacturing hundreds of thousands of clocks and timepieces.

Redier’s interest eventually expanded beyond traditional watchmaking. While he had previously focused almost exclusively on horology, he increasingly turned toward scientific instrumentation and mechanical design. Among his 27 registered patents were numerous improvements in self-recording devices. From 1876 onward, he began developing a line of precision instruments employing weighted gear systems, culminating in his “differential mechanism,” a cleverly engineered motion converter. His mercury-based self-recording barometer was the first of its kind and was adopted by major meteorological observatories, including those in Paris and Saint-Maur.

Antoine Redier manufactured barometers, thermometers, hygrometers, counters, chronometers, regulators, and various scientific instruments. His contributions to science and industry earned him the Legion of Honor in 1863; following the 1878 Exposition Universelle in Paris, he was promoted to officer.

Antoine Redier passed away on December 30, 1892, at the age of 75. His company was later absorbed by Léon Maxant in 1905. Today, Redier is remembered as a pioneer of both horology and meteorological instrumentation — a bridge between art, science, and practical invention.