letter balance

This letter scale was made by Gottlieb Kern & Sohn. It's more or less a replica. The standard with the imperial eagle on top and the balance arm with the weighing plates, strongly resemble the models depicted in old catalogs. The wooden base with the slotted weights could not be traced in the old catalogs. The base holds the following weights: 1, 2, 2, 5, 10, 10, 20, and 50 grams. So this scale is suited to determine exceeding of the postal weight limits 20, 50 and 100 grams. The presented specimen has an awkward ugly little plate with the text "500 Jahre Post", meaning "500 years Mail". This fact was celebrated in 1990 by the German Mail (Deutsche Post). The arm of the balance has the logo of Gottlieb Kern & Sohn. Also the weighing capacity of 100 grams is stamped in this beam. Below some more pictures of this letter balance.