letter scale

The name of the maker is engraved in the arm of the pendulum: the Cross Pen Co. Boston. This firm is especially known for the manufacturing og fountain pens. In a little article on the internet about this letter scale written by L. Michael Fultz (2001, PenBid.com, Inc.) it's presumed this scale was manufactured elsewhere by order of the Cross Pen Company. The existence of a patent is not known. In advertising the scale was called: the "Peerless" letter scale. The scale is made of nickel-plated brass. The range is 12 ounces. The chart up to 4 oz. is subdivided per ½ oz. The first ½ oz. is subdivided again, ¼ oz. Above 4 oz. a stripe per 2 oz. is given at: 6, 8, 10 en 12 oz. The load suspension is a nice combination of a letter clip and a hook for small parcels. A totally identical letter scale exists with the name: Marshall.Son & Co., Boston. According to Michael Crawforth in his Handbook of old weighing instruments the original design was made by Narcisse Briais -on scales marked by the initials N.B.- and dates from the period 1869-1875. In  Meten & Wegen, September 2000, number 111, on page 2638 R.J. Kok shows the Briais letter scale depicted as a drawing in an old catalog of unknown date under article number 8853. Also,