apothecary scale
This little scale is of German origin. The most likely maker is Ph.J. Maul. It's an old little apothecary scale. The chart of 12 Drachms is subdivided into parts of a third Drachm. The Drachm, also spelled Drachme, is a British and American apothecary unit of measuring weights. 1 Drachm = 60/7000 pound = 3 scruples = 60 grains = 3.888 grams. The Drachm was not an universal valid, unambiguous unit of measure. Regional in Germany and Austria, the value varies between 3.65 and 4.37 grams. In earlier times as an old Greek measure, it was 4.3 grams. Beside the Drachm, the dram exists also. In the Avoirdupois system 1 dram = 2.734 scruples = 27,37 grains = 1.77 grams. An interesting website with more information about apothecary weights is made by David Coates. The original plate is lost. The primitive replacement still doesn't have the proper weight. DÉPOSÉ is stamped into this scale at two places. DÉPOSÉ means the design was registered. Below some more pictures of this little apothecary scale.
