STAMP SAVER
letter scale

STAMP SAVER LETTER SCALE

This letter scale was patented in 1940 with an American Design patent with number D122.426 to Carl Cook Veneman. The scale gives the postal rates for one, two or three ounces in the categories City, US and Air. (Local, domestic and international). The air mail rate of 6c per ounce was valid from 1949 till 1955. This is a springless scale. The metal plates with the rate figures are the built in counter weights. When weighing the arm of the balance meets the first rate-plate and tries to lift it. At exceeding the 1 ounce limit, The balance arm actually lifts the first plate

animation of the whole weighing range click to start

figure 1 of the Design patent

and meets the second rate-plate tries to lift this also. At exceeding the 2 ounce limit the balance arm succeeds in lifting the second plate also and meets the third plate with rate figures. When the figures of this plate are no longer in the three round windows, the limit of 3 ounces is exceeded. At other specimens the balance arm has a little bolt and nut. By moving this in the slot a fine tuning of the scale is possible. This scale was made in several colours, for instance in a very unattractive vomit green. At the figure of the patent the base of the scale has stiffenings at the bottom side. In reality it's a flat surface on top of which a steel plate is mounted and fixed with three little bolts and nuts. When this plate is removed the moulded name of scale and name of the firm is good readable:

parallelogram- construction	added mass	rates in round windows
back of the scale	CITY - US - AIR	moulded text at bottom