Balance

Object Name:

Balance

Object ID:

1995.624.03

Description:

Balance scale in tin box.

Scale: Steel, brass, and textile balance pan set. Height 5.9", width 5.5", depth 1.45", weight 18 grams. Small tassel made of dark and light colors with steel S hook. S hook connected to top of steel framework for pivot suspension. Two matching holes for knife edge pivot surfaces to ride in at bottom of suspension. Knife edges mounted at center of 4.65" long balance arm. Integral, vertical center pointing arm, 1.3" long to balance arm. Dark-colored finial yoke damper below knife edge pivot surfaces that freely swings from two small suspension holes. Small circular slightly-flared points at ends of pan arms. 0.25" hollow discs near ends. Pivot arm inside of each disc with freely-moving sheet-metal ring that hangs below pivot point. 0.25" diameter split ring in each ring. Three finely-woven green cords from split ring that lead to slightly concave brass disc, 1.4" diam. Cords knotted below brass disc to hold disc in place. One set of cords ~3.4" long. Second set, ~2" long. Cords on shorter set not all of equal length. Brass pans smooth on concave side and slightly textured on bottom side. Steel arms and suspension portions smoothly finished. Slight polish on some areas of balance arms.

Box: Oval steel box with hinged cover. Black lacquer finish. Slightly-flared rim around base and cover. Metal hinge riveted to box at back on outside; hinge 0.75" long. Rectangular typescript paper label adhered to exterior of cover: "Presented to the / New Hampshire Historical Society / by Lula B. Greeley".

Material:

Metal
Tin
Silk
Textile
Steel
Brass

Dimensions:

W-2.25 L-5 D-0.7 inches Weight-1.869 oz

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Collection