photographic scale

This is an old photographic or chemical scale. It was specially designed for photographers, whom in those days, processed their photos themselves. This specimen was bought in the USA. the maker most probably is Ph.J. Maul from Hamburg, Germany. Earlier, this scale was presented on this website as the 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 glass bowl is still present. The box of the U.S. packaging has a somewhat tattered sticker. The scale name is disappeared partly and also the name of the supplier is no longer complete.