Ever seen a Stormglass?

A couple of weeks ago my good buddy, Rod Michel, presented me with a going away gift -- The H.M.S. Beagle Stormglass.

I must admit to some doubt as to this instruments abilities but that will wait while I explain what this cool piece of kit is -- I quote from the Hammacher Schlemmer description:

"This is the stormglass, a mysterious device used to predict weather since 1750 and employed by Admiral FitzRoy, Captain of the H.M.S. Beagle, when he and his Lieutenant Charles Darwin, voyaged to the coast of S. America and the Gallapagos Islands in 1831 to conduct a hydrographic survey for commerce and naval expeditions by the British Royal Navy. Although how it functions remains a mystery, the stormglass' ability to predict atmospheric change is well documented. One theory states that the stormglass responds to the electromagnetic fluctuations caused by weather and solar storms. The contained liquid - a mixture of distilled water, potassium nitrate, ammonium chloride, alcohol and camphor - appears cloudy when precipitation is approaching; when crystals are visible in the liquid, humid or foggy weather can be expected; a cloudy glass with small stars indicates thunderstorms. The hermetically sealed glass chamber is housed in a handcrafted brass cylinder."

I had sold my television a few days prior to receiving the stormglass and had intentionally avoided news of any kind. The day after it was hung the glass clouded up. As it was about 75 degress and sunny I thought that I had a lemon.
The next day it began to drizzle.

The stormglass is hanging above the ships clock and barometer and is consulted regularly by the Tiger Team as the Oracle of all things weather.

A very cool piece of kit indeed!

Muy gracias, Mahalo nui loa and Thanks Rodney:)