Many thanks to each and all for the responses.
I had no idea that my little message would provoke such an interesting
thread.
It recalled some of my own experiences in chem labs at school and later
in
life.
I'm still looking for a small qty of mercury though.

Hi,

How small and what for? One or a few mercury tilt switches might have
enough, or try:

http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3A.uk+mercury+barometer+repairs

cheers,
Pete.

Thanks Pete,

Also thanks for the google link, I'm fairly sure that I have already looked
at most if not all of them. I'm not sure of the quantity but prolly about
150-200 grams (it is now quite late in the day and I could be miles out).
As my op said this is for refilling a mercury barometer, perhaps several.
I'm quite sure this stuff does exist in the wild. The idea of buying tilt
switches and wrecking them for the contents doesn't really do it for me but
thanks for the suggestion.

Sunbeam
--
Gogo, Klokly & Dor