ACCURATE letter scale

letter scale

This little postal scale is a spring balance. The patent 2,036,637, mentioned at the foot of the chart, is given to Kingsbury. The date is April 7, 1936. Kingsbury was from the Kingsbury Manufacturing Company, from Keene, New Hampshire. This firm itself manufactured postal scales. This Kingsbury-scale looks even more simple, because of the open bottom. The Rexall scale looks very similar to the Kingsbury. Only the housing lacks some stiffening ribs. Maybe, Accurate took over the Kingsbury firm and it's patents. The patent figures show a cumbrous way of tuning the leaf spring of the scale. One varies the active length of the spring with a separate key. The figures of another Kingsbury patent, number 2,036,636 also of April 7, 1936, show a more simple way of tuning the spring. A drawback of this solution is that it's only accessible via the open bottom of the scale.

rear of scale

Kingsbury-patent 2,036,637 with cumbrous loose tuning key

Kingsbury: loose tuning key

Kingsbury-patent 2,036,636 tuning screw at bottom left

detail Kingsbury scale

Kingsbury scale

Rexall scale

The Accurate has a different designed spring tuning means, at a better approachable spot. The Accurate could be bought in the colors red, green and ivory at a price of 1.50 US Dollars. The range is 12 ounces. A lot of postal rate information is given at the chart. Second Class mail, this is for sending newspapers and magazines, costs 1 cent per 2oz. Third Class mail, = MSDE, Merchandise, does 1.5 cent per 2oz. The chart also gives the First Class rate: 3 cent per 1oz. This was valid between 1932 and 1958. Also the Air Mail rate is printed at the chart: 5 cent per 1oz. This was valid between 1946-1949, so this little scale dates from this period. At the foot of the chart is printed: "NOT LEGAL FOR USE IN TRADE". Even the interlocking system of the package box of this postal scale is patented. The US-patent number is 2,053,857. Below some more photos of this letter scale.

knob for tuning the leaf spring	ACCURATE logo at box	folded indicator
stiffening rib and folded lip	closure of box patent number	the scale patent 2,036,637
on top of original box	red version	green version
dependable accuracy	price: 1.50 US dollar	chose green, red, or ivory