MAILWAY
letter scale & letter opener

maker: Walmann Products, Battle Creek, Michigan, USA
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Mailway letter opener
Mailway letter opener and letter scale
 

This is a letter opener & letter scale. The scale is type rocker. The capacity is not specified, but it is -as one might guess- one ounce. Different designs are known: with and without the name Mailway. Also with the text PAT. PEND'G and later with the text PAT. 176,048. I found the US Design patent with that number 176,048. It was granted November 8, 1955. The application was already made
 
 

figure 1 of the Design patent
figure 1 of Design patent 176,048
of Nov. 8, 1955
 
fig. 1 van Design patent 175,995
figure 1 of
Design patent 175,995
of Nov. 1, 1955
 
fig. 1 van Design patent 178,437
figure 1 of
Design patent 178,437
of July 31, 1956
 
fig. 1 van Design patent 178,685
figure 1 of
Design patent 178,685
of Sept. 4, 1956
 

September 30, 1954. So my specimen with the text PAT. PEND'G probably is from the period 1954-1955. To my great surprise several other Design patents were also granted to the same firm Walmann Products, Battle Creek, Michigan USA. Design 175,995 of November 1, 1955 is also named Combined letter opener and balance. The Design 178,437 of July 31, 1956 and Design 178,685 of September 4, 1956 are named letter opener and letter opener or the like. Looking at the patent figures reveal that both designs are also letter balances, type rocker, because they have a letter slot. I don't know whether or not real specimens were produced of one these three other Designs. My specimen had no packing. Others have a dark red box or a leather sheath. Below some more pictures of the Mailway.

detail 1
under or over 1 ounce
 
rocking the Mailway
animation: weighing
a letter just over 1 ounce
(move mouse over photo)
detail 2
rocker type letter scale
 
detail 3
the letter slot
 
detail 4
name of the letter scale
 
detail 5
patent pending
 
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« collection part 11 «© copyright André Solversion: November 7, 2007