 He performed a series of observations on the change in the boiling point of water at different pressures, and pointed out the need for controlling for this effect when calibrating thermometers.The Shuckburgh scale was a standard brass yard constructed for him by Edward Troughton, whose company later made the Victorian standard yard of 1855; the Shuckburgh scale was used by George Biddell Airy in his measurements of the earth's shape, and in setting standards for many years by the British government.In statistics, Shuckburgh was a pioneer in the collation of price indexes.