Customer Reviews

River City Clocks 21 Inch Liquid Galileo Thermometer with Ten Multi-Color Floats and Gold Tags - Model # L3751G

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Accurate Galileo thermometer in 2 degree Fahrenheit increments. But this is more useful as a conversation piece and as a teaching aid in explaining density (specific gravity) variations with temperature rather than as a thermometer. The actual thermometer looks much better than the on-line picture. I think that this product is nicer than the smaller versions that are for sale by River City and other manufacturers, and worth the extra price.

This product is fragile, and the first delivery of this product, although properly boxed and protected, did not survive UPS shipping. I had to send the broken glass leaking pieces back. Although Amazon made the return process as painless as possible, it was still inconvenient and messy. Amazon's service in getting a replacement to me was excellent.

Hopefully I will be able to update this review soon to say that all is well.

We received this Galileo Thermometer 6 days ago, in perfect shape. We placed it on the mantle and it is a beautiful piece and interesting to watch.

However ...... the floats all seem to stick together, whether at the top or bottom. In the afternoon as the house warms up and inside temp is about 70 deg, all of the floats are still at the top of the glass. We have to pick it up and swirl the water, then the floats sink as they are supposed to and do reflect the correct temp. Then the same in reverse in the morning -- we wake up in a cold house (approx 63 deg) and the floats are still at the bottom of the glass, and the lowest (floating) float is indicating 70 deg. We pick it up, swirl the water, and the floats return to their positions to show the correct temp. As the day warms up, they do not sink again, until we swirl it around. It is very strange. This has gone on from the very first day.

I have written to River City customer service to see if they have any input. I can't imagine there is a way to 'correct' the problem since it is a sealed thermometer, it's not like something could be adjusted. But nonetheless, I wanted to give them a chance to respond and advise.

I will update this review when I have more info. Hopefully I will be able to change rating to 5 stars, as I do love the looks of this product.


UPDATE 12/09: Back in Feb, River City sent me a brand new unit without question. The second unit works the same way. Don't understand why it doesn't work smoother, disappointing product.

I had wanted one of these thermometers for a long time just because they are so pretty, and not for the practical use as much. I wasn't sure if it would actually work or if it would make it through the mail in one piece. I received a gift certificate and was trying to decide what to get and then I remembered to check my wish list and I had put one of these on it a long time ago. I checked out the various ones available and this one was the right price and had a lot of the inner globes in it so I ordered it. It arrived unbroken and I was completely pleased with the quality and workmanship of the item. It has a very sturdy bottom of thick glass so it's weighted and won't tip over. You do occasionally have to tilt it and put it upright again to get the globes to move into place so that the right temperature shows but that's no big deal. I really love this and enjoy just looking at the beautiful colors of the liquid globes inside. I highly recommend this.

Bought this 6 months ago. It has been sitting in my living room ever since.

GOOD:
1) Much sturdier and of higher quality than I expected. (I dropped it from about 2 or 3 feet and it didn't even dent)
2) Gorgeous
3) Came very well packaged
4) One can read the temperature at 1 degree intervals
5) I have had no problem with spheres becoming stuck as others suggested (Temperature here has ranged the full range of the thermometer)

BAD:
1) Since the liquid inside the thermometer must change temperature, there is a lag between when the air changes temperature and when the thermometer displays it
2) Phallic

I wanted to show the classic Galileo thermometer in my Elementary science classroom so I ordered this 21" thermometer so the students would be able to see it from a distance. I had never had a problem with any Amazon purchase before, but after it did not show up for Christmas I contacted the seller. They let me know then that Fed-Ex had broken my thermometer in delivery and becasue they were out of stock of the 21" they offered the 17" River City Clocks 17 Inch Liquid Galileo Thermometer with Seven Multi-Color Floats and Gold Tags - Model # L3845G along with a groovy floating sand timer as a consolation gift for the same price. I really wanted it sooner than later so I agreed to the replacement.

I am happy that I said yes becasue this 17" is very sturdy and a nice size for my home. The glass is thick and the base is stable for the thermometer to stand perfectly straight. The colors are beautiful and the gold hanging tags are easy to read. My 10 year old son is fascinated by how it works! Truthfully, we all are because we are actually running to see if the orbs have changed position during the day! It's fun!

The 17" does not have 10 floating orbs (no matter what other Amazon pages say)...it only has 7. I was hoping it would have some colder temperature orbs so we could see it move more often now in winter. It has temperature ranging from 68 to 80 with 2 degree increments between each orb. It will be even more fun in the spring when the temp changes throughout the day.

Thanks to River City Clocks for trying so hard to make their customers happy! I hope Fed-Ex has their dammage prevention insuracne paid up because they are going to need it if they keep breaking 50 dollar Galilean Thermomenters!

This thing is a real kick, my little Grandsons seem to like watching it to see if it moves, kind-a like watching paint dry!! :-) Get one, they are a nice novelty and conversation item.

R/KMW

Product is more handsome than pictured-nice detail on temperature tags; vivid, varied color liquid in baby buoys that stand out even more with a little backlighting. Delighted with product and service and highly recommend it.

I bought my 21" Galileo thermometer from a store in ME, but I'm pretty sure it's the same product as this 21" (River City) sold by Amazon, all same shapes, same gold tags. I posted three pictures of mine, because the Amazon pictures do not do it justice. For a science fan this is a great gift. I love mine. It looks great and works well too. Seems like it would be expensive to make, so the price is very reasonable.

As other reviewers have pointed out, it's very sturdy with a heavy glass foot and the glass cylinder seems thick too. A major reason it looks so good, is that the glass quality is excellent like good crystal. Outside glass is all one piece and completely sealed. Knowing it was all glass I had them open the box in the store before I bought it. It's packed in a nice form fitting styrofoam box, but it has come from China.

Whether it is absolutely accurate is not the point (I didn't check), but I find my self glancing over and thinking it's warmer now (by 6 degrees) because I see two floats up whereas earlier it was five up (2 degrees/float).

One thing I find fascinating is how slowly the floats move. They seems to hang in the center for minutes. Occasionally I will stare at one, but I have yet to see one move.

This is a review of the River City Clocks' 21 Inch Liquid Galileo Thermometer - Model # L3751G that I purchased on Amazon.com. I give this item Five out of Five stars.

First off, I would like to say the picture of this product does not do it justice. This is a very nice Galileo Thermometer. It is also a lot bigger that it looks in the picture. I had intended to place the thermometer on my fireplace mantel to show it off to gests but I liked it so much I nixed that idea in favor of placing it in my den so I could enjoy it more myself.

Like I said this is a great looking thermometer but the floats in this thermometer reads every two degrees with a range of 62 degs (F) to 82 degs (F) so if you are looking for something with more temperature range and more accuracy then purchase something else. However, if you would enjoy something that tells the temperature and does so with style and elegance then you won't go wrong in purchasing this great thermometer for your home.

Lastly, I would like to add that I received my first thermometer broken. The packing was a joke and provided no protection for this glass item at all. Whoever packed this item only stuffed the original box down in a slightly bigger box and stuffed the remaining space with some brown paper. It was no wonder it broke during shipping. The replacement thermometer was not packaged much better but did survive the trip. To Amazon's credit the customer service in this case was very good. There was no charge for the replacement and it was all done in a timely manner.

It's neat to have and is definitely a conversation piece when there are guests in the house.