letter scale
The Postage Saver was designed by Charles T. Walter from Peoria, Illinois. At August 27 1946 a patent application was made. Not until December 21 1954 a patent was granted, so a good eight years later! Stamped in the scale is Pat. Pend. meaning an application was made. The rate for letters of 3c was valid from 1932 till 1958. The airmail rate of 5c was valid in the period 1946-1949. So, this specimen dates from this short period. Strangely, the leaflet reads: patented in U.S.A., because this became true not sooner then at the end of 1954. In the drawing of letter scale in the first figure of the patent the an airmail rate of 8c is given for the first ounce. This was valid from 1944 till 1946, therefore this drawing dates from this period. The range of this foldable letter scale is 4 ounces. The scale is a double leaf spring. The scale is made by stamping, or punching, it out of thin sheet metal. Only the clumsy letter clip of wounded wire is magnetic. The letter clip has a strange layer of white powder. The letter scale was sold complete with leaflet and brown cover in a cardboard packing with the name of the letter scale printed in blue. The leaflet says Dakin Manufacturing Co. manufactured the letter scale for Allied Development Corp. Below some more photos of this letter scale.
