STAR letter scale

front of letter scale

This is a typical little American letter scale. It's height is only 8 centimeters. The diameter of the plate is tight 5 centimeters. The range is 16 ounces = 1 Lb = 453.6 grams. The postal rates are given in details at the chart. Itemized in domestic: parcels, letters, book+cir., newspapers. And foreign: letters, newspapers, et cetera. In addition, under parcels and under books above certain weights there is stated that the postal rate is computed by zones. The domestic rate for letters is 2c voor 1oz. This rate was valid from 1885 till 1917. At the bottom of the scale are the name of the manufacturer and four dates of patents. The oldest year is 1896, the youngest 1903. The patent of March, 10th 1903, is US patent 722,618 with the title: Blank for sheet-metal scale-frames. The patent is about a cheaper and better way of cutting and folding the housing of the scale.

rear and side-view of scale

figure of US patent 561,309 dated June 2nd 1896

figure of US patent 561,309 dated June 2nd 1896

The patent of May 26th 1903, is US patent 729,207 with the title: Mounting for spring adjusting-rods of weighing-scales. This title speaks for itself. The patent of June 2nd 1896, is US patent 561,309 with the title: Spring-balance weighing-scale. This is the core patent of this letter scale. The chart of the scale is ergonomically positioned and better to read by the user. The arc shaped chart is placed concentric with the movement of the index arm of the mechanism. This letter scale is a spring balance. The mechanism with attached extension spring, can be tuned by rotating the adjusting knob, visible at the top of the housing. The housing and the plate are of magnetic steel. Only the connecting pin is of brass. The edge of the plate is ornamented with a pattern of flowers. Also the base plate of the housing is intensely ornamented. The plate is coated with a thin silver colored top layer. This is partly weared off. The black housing has a copper colored sub-layer, this is noticable at many spots. Below some more photos of this little letter scale.

edges ornamented	flowered edge	adjusting knob
weared off	text at bottom	ornamented edge of plate
extensive rates	also rates per zone	range 16 oz.