"DOVE"
letter balance

maker: Charles Richtmann, Newark, New Jersey, USA bruine lijn

"DOVE" letter scale

This little letter scale is named "DOVE". This name is on original boxes. The scale design was made by Charles Richtmann. A patent was applied for on March 14 1887. The patent was granted on November 22 1887, it has the US patent number 373,568. This patent date is engraved in the scale. The scale of measurement is odd. It has a division in GRAMM (German) and in OUNCE. It shows half ounce marks up to 3 ounces and 15 gramm marks up to 90 gramms. This subdivision in 15 grams is somewhat ackward. It has two pointers. The text of the patent reveals this weighing scale is intended for weighing letters and other light parcels or packages. The actual letter scale is very similar to the drawings presented in the patent. The broad and steady bearings are a nice feature. It is intended to disassemble

the "DOVE" in front
of the EQM article

disassembled

figures 1 & 2 of US patent No. 373,568 granted Nov. 22, 1887

the brass mechanism part

this letter scale very simple, "thereby greatly facilitating the packing of the device for transportation." My specimen didn't have an original top plate. The home-made brass plate shown here is a good replacement. In Equilibrium No. 4 of 2006 on pages 3196-3200 Steve Beare presented an extensive article about the "DOVE" letter balance and its designer Richtmann. Steve Beare owns a scale with the text: PAT.APD. FOR instead of PAT.NOV.22'87 as shown here. Below several photos show more details of this nice small old letter scale.

home-made top plate	bottom side of top plate	plate attached to mechanism
bearings	bearings	bearing figure of the patent
date patent Nov. 22, 1887	two pointers	capacity 90 grams / 3 ounces
the tripod	the tripod patent figure	tripod with adjusting screw
loaded with 50 grams	claw shape tripod ends	the lead filled ornamented poise

« collection part 11 «

version: October 5, 2007

"DOVE"letter balance

"DOVE"
letter balance