Thermometers have long been important to everyday life, but they became even more indispensable when people began to use them to track the weather. Galileo is credited with being the first inventor of this instrument, though his thermoscope wasn’t quite accurate and required air to be used for calibration. By the 1800s, advances in materials and production had created thermometers that were very accurate, allowing them to be used in many scientific, agricultural and industrial applications.

Advertisers took antique advertising thermometers  of this newfound usefulness, creating a variety of thermometers to promote their products and businesses. These antique advertising thermometers, which could be found in diners, general stores and gas stations, were often made from metals like tin or porcelain with images and company names. They came in a variety of shapes, from circular with clock-like hands to vertical rectangular or die-cut signs that resembled products like soda bottles.

Marketing Through Time: The Fascination of Antique Advertising Thermometers

These thermometers were very popular in rural areas, where determining the temperature and wind direction was key to forecasting the weather. Many small local companies, including food and beverage producers, automobile manufacturers and automotive parts retailers, produced their own outdoor thermometers to display on their storefronts. These early advertising thermometers are now a sought-after collectible by both seasoned collectors and novices. Values for these old ads vary greatly depending on condition, subject matter and brand name.

For example, a vintage tin thermometer featuring “Tilden Dairy & Delicatessen, Forest Hills” might be worth $125 or more in excellent condition. Car enthusiasts, meanwhile, will likely pay more for a thermometer featuring their favorite auto brand.