
Fernand Braudel

Water Meters

Mid 19th century to early 20th century

During the second half of the 19th century, the Portuguese engineer, Antonio Pinto Bastos registered the patent to this low-pressure tilting water meter.  It consists of a parallel piped box, with 2 equal oscillating containers that would alternately fill with water. A clockwork system registers the number of times that these containers would release water. A small number of this model were produced in a larger size and without automatic valve.

In mid-20th century, they became obsolete, the company having decided to replace them with positive water meters.

These low-pressure water meters were also known as “Bastos’ water meters”, “stroking water meters” or “tilting water meters”.

This item has the producer’s number 8254.

see also