FERTIG
letter scale

maker: Philipp Jakob Maul, Hamburg, Germany bruine lijn

FERTIG letter scale

This Fertig letter scale was made by Philipp Jakob Maul, from Hamburg in Germany. The letter scale was already shown in the Export-Catalog of 1912, see the drawing below. From which year until when this Fertig was produced I don't know exactly, but it will be about 1912 to 1932. This specimen has two weighing ranges: with folded counterweight to 100 grams and with unfolded counterweight to 350 grams. 350 grams is typical for the French market. In the Export-Catalog are different combinations of weighing ranges offered: 100g/250g, 100g/350g, and 100g/500g. The Export-Catalog offers scales with brass parts burnished and black lacquered stand, or nickelplated all over, or a combination: the brass parts nickelplated and the stand black lacquered. The name FERTIG is in the cast iron base, just above this is the indication D.R.P. This is the abbreviation Deutsche Reich Patent. I don't know this patent. The scale of measure has on the right two numbers: D.R.G.M. No.168741 and No.179460. D.R.G.M. means Deutsches Reich Gebrauchs Muster, This a model registration, quicker and cheaper than a patent registration. In Mass und Gewicht Nr.13 March 1990, on pages 272-279 in the article of Johannes Lindner with the title "Das Neigungswaagensystem "Fertig" mit selbsttätiger Nullpunkteinstellung". both D.R.G.M.'s are dated to 1902. I don't know what is registered exactly. No.168741 is about the slanted positioned scale of measure, and No.179460 is about a double scale with a flip-over counterweight. These Gebrauchsmusters are not specific to the Fertig or limited to the Fertig. They were also applied to other models of letter scales of Ph.J. Maul, see for example with just one weighing range of 100 grams, letter scale. I own a simpler letter scale

back of the letter scale

it has only the D.R.G.M. No.168741. I still have not seen the texts and drawings of both Gebrauchsmusters. (Aside: years later an updated version of the article now with the title: "Das Briefwaagensystem Fertig" by Johannes Lindner was published in in Post- und Telekommunikationsgeschichte, Heft 2, 1997, pp. 89-98). Earlier on this website other versions of Fertig postal scales displayed, see Fertig, the lightweight Fertig, the tall Fertig, little Fertig, letter scale, Fertig, and the Fertig on ornamental base. The cast iron foot of this Fertig letter scale is very similar to the foot of the more known Columbus. This Fertig is 24 centimeters high. In the top plate is the text GES. GESCH. this is the abbreviation of Gesetzlich Geschützt, the top plate would be legally protected, patented, presumably a design patent.
Below some more pictures of this FERTIG letter scale.

with counterweight folded

animation: the drawing from the 1912 catalog, and the actual letter scale
which appears by moving the mouse over the drawing.
Please note the additional reinforcement bracket mounted
horizontally halfway the pointer.

with unfolded counterweight

the M logo of Ph.J. Maul on the large counterweight	bracket between arm of counterweight and pointer	the M logo of Ph.J. Maul on the small counterweight
slanted placed scale of measure	the additional reinforcement bracket mounted between pointer and the arm of tne counterweight is clearly visible here	detail of the scale from the side
the scale in Grm. the top scale has a stripe per gram	the scale of measure has 2 ranges	the D.R.G.M. numbers and the lower scale is subdivided per five grams
the pointer end is a flat strip	the text in the top plate: GES. GESCH.	the pointer end is a flat strip
beautiful shape of the weigher base	D.R.P. FERTIG is in the cast iron	base of the letter scale
the base stands on four abutments	the four raised abutments	seen from below

« collection part 15 «

version: January 10, 2015

FERTIGletter scale

FERTIG
letter scale