Scale, Balance

Object Name:

Scale, Balance

Object ID:

1963.027

Date:

circa 1885

Description:

Prescription scale. Nickel-plated brass box. Rectangular with rounded corners. Removable cover with wide beveled edges. Two semicircular notches on side of cover with which to open and pull cover up and off. Impressed text on cover: "DR. C. H. FITCH'S PRESCRIPTION SCALE / PATENTED SEPT 29TH 1885"; incised fanciful floral decorations on corners and in center. Side of cover on inside surface somewhat polished. Bottom section has polished sides and bright interior. Cutouts on narrow ends of bottom for mechanism. Inside U-shaped frame fastened to bottom. Steel shaft between ends of frame. Sleeve around shaft between uprights. Rectangular section attached to sleeve of sheet-metal with folded sides for rigidity. Sheet-metal attached to shallow conical piece of metal with slight gold tone on its interior surface. Folded-over edges of sheet-metal arm allow rectangular flat arm to fit into it. Little tabs on sides of arm so it will only slide in so far. Arm 0.45" wide with overall length of 2.7". Slide goes over arm with small open oval on one side and a small turned-up tab on opposite side. Open oval incorporates a sharp edge. Slide indicator indicates weight of material in pan with scale engraved into surface of long arm, 0-20 in grades. Marks on scale in 0.5 grain divisions. When set at zero, pan and arm balance freely.

Material:

Metal
Nickel
Brass

Dimensions:

H-0.8 L-2.9 D-1.5 inches Weight-2.053 oz

Credit Line:

Gift of James W. Jameson

Subjects:

Weights and measures, Scales