BECKER & BUDDINGH
letter scale

Arnhem, Netherlands bruine lijn

Becker & Buddingh letter scale

Abovementioned Becker is Christopher Becker (1805-1890). He first worked for several years in Germany as an instrument maker. Then he started in the Dutch town Groningen in 1828/1829 a successful business in constructing and producing instruments. In 1841 he moved to Arnhem and began an instrument factory in 1842. Abovementioned Buddingh is Jan Jurriën Buddingh jr. (1832-1905). Hij was educated in France to the profession of instrument maker according to dr. Joke Mooij in "Instrumenten, wetenschap en samenleving" on page 124. Much more extensive and detailed information gives prof.dr.ir. Leen Aardoom in the journal De Hollandse Cirkel, volume 15, nr.4, December 2013, pp. 162-173 in his article "Jan Jurriën Buddingh (1832-1905), Arnhems fabrikant van fysische en mathematische instrumenten". herein Aardoom mentions no education in France. From 1847 J.J. Buddingh jr. works at C. Becker. It became quite a few years, showed a newspaper ad in which the start of the firm Becker & Buddingh per January 17, 1855 was announced by C. Becker. C. Becker emigrated to America already in 1854, his brother in law C.Th. Marius then often looked after his business interests in Arnhem. By July 1, 1855 J.J. Buddingh jr. purchased the company through the brother in law C.Th. Marius. Buddingh maintained the name Becker in his company name because of the good name based on previous products of high quality. See the ad listed below that appeared in the daily newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad of July 3 and July 7, 1855. In the early years there was quite a disagreement with C.Th. Marius and also with C. Becker from America over the rights to use the name Becker on scales, balances and bascules. Many ads in newspapers from that time illustrate that.

back of the scale

ad in the daily newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad of January 20, 1855 in which
C. Becker states that J.J. Buddingh jr. becomes partner in the company,
and the company will continue as Becker & Buddingh

ad in the daily newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad of July 3 and also July 7, 1855 in which both
partners confirm that J.J. Buddingh is the sole owner of the company, starting July 1, 1855.

Becker & Buddingh, from Arnhem existed up to 1882 as Factory of Mathematical and Physical Instruments Becker & Buddingh. The predicate Royal was granted in October 1882. The firm has continued as Royal Factory Becker & Buddingh until early 1906. On December 17, 1905 the owner J.J. Buddingh jr. died, and the company was soon closed. A portion of the inventory was sold in 1906 to the scales manufacturer W.C. Olland.
The large letter scale shown here weighs up to 500 grams. The brass dial has stripes per gram up to 250 grams. Above 250 grams, there is a mark per five grams. Moreover, over the entire range the dial is also subdivided per ten grams and per five grams. The unit GRAM is on the measurement scale. The height of the stand is 48 centimeters, the highest point on the scale at the suspension of the letter scale is even at 50.5 centimeters. The scale for the letters is made of a very thin brass plate. On the edges, the sheet is folded. This scale was torn in a few places. Originally the plate was attached to the arm by means of three brass rivets. The cracks were covered with a small plate under the original plate and this plate is fixated by hard soldering it to the letter scale. The rivets were replaced by three little screws with nut. The horizontal brass part has the name BECKER & Buddingh, ARNHEM, this name is largely hidden behind the black crescent-shaped part of the counterweight-arm. This large letter scale dates from the quite spacious period 1855-1905.
Below some more pictures of this B&B letter scale.

the scale loaded with 50 grams

BECKER & BUDDINGH, ARNHEM
at the front of the horizontal brass part

the maximal load is 500 grams

the half moon covers the name almost entirely	the beautiful sphere on top of the stand	main axis rotates in a brass housing
the letter scale unloaded	side view	the scale loaded with 200 grams
suspension letter scale	the battered letter scale	detail of the letter scale
the reading wire in the window	the reading window with the wire	solidly constructed window
disconnected letter scale	letter scale from above	repair visible at top
maximum loading capacity is 500 grams stripes per 5, 10, and 50 grams increments	up to 250 grams there are also stripes of measure per 1 gram	stripes of measure per 1 gram and per 5 grams, per 10 grams, and per 50 grams
the reading window at zero grams	the reading window from behind	part of the brass dial

a fixed foot

the three-legged base

the height-adjustable foot

« collection part 15 «

version: January 13, 2015

BECKER & BUDDINGHletter scale

BECKER & BUDDINGH
letter scale