Placing an iron wire down the tube and tipping the tube with the open side up will allow the bubbles to rise. This is because the mercury will not wet the iron and there is thus a path for the air to escape. It helps to jiggle the wire and tap the tube lightly on a table top.
Jim Peters
Hillsdale College
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Some kind soul took our Fortin barometer off the wall and placed it
horizontal - all the mercury drained out of the tube.
Does anyone have any information on how to fill these devices? Many hours
have been spent in the past on trying to repair these, without much
success. (Air bubbles like to stick to the inside walls.)