rocker letter scale
&
letter opener

letter scale rocks just above 20 grams, also letter opener

This combined letter scale and letter opener came from Germany. The German name is: Brief Uebergewichtsanzeiger für 20 Gr. It is a rocker: if the letter is slightly heavier than 20 grams, then the scale tilts to the side of the letter clip, see the animations below. One uses the scale at the edge of a table or a desk. On the design a D.R.G.M. would have obtained. I have not found this Deutsches Reich Gebrauchs Muster yet. However I found a British patent GB491380 applied for in 1937 and granted in 1938 with the title: Improvements in Letter Balances and like Scales to Dr. Georg Rülke from Saxony in Germany. There is also a Swiss patent CH203996 from 1939 entitled: Kippwaage, also with the name Dr. Georg Rülke. The first two figures of the patent show a rocking scale that resembles the letter scale photographed here. The rocker on the pictures is simpler in shape and tilts more clearly across a larger angle.

bottom of the letter scale

the first two figures of the British patent 491380 of 1938 granted to Dr. Georg Rülke of Brand-Erbisdorf, Saxony, Germany

This rocker letter scale and letter opener has engraved advertising for W.E.Z. Cigarren. The original company dates from 1911, another internet source mentions 1907 as the starting year. It was started as the Waren- Ein- und Verkauf-Zentrale GmbH. Originally for members of the General Swiss Association for Germany and neighboring states e. V., Leipzig, (milk and animal breeders). Clothing and food were purchased and sold. Since the 1920s the company has 50 branches in addition to a subsidiary in Königsberg / East Prussia, and it has opened its own cigar factory in Altenburg near Leipzig. It now sold "W. E. Z." - cigars from own production. The 46 shareholders of the company were mainly farmers and animal breeders with Swiss nationality. The cigar company started in the twenties. In 1933 it had the name W.E.Z. Cigarren-Fabrik GmbH, in Altenburg near Leipzig. It was continued in 1937 as a private company called "Haus W.E.Z." Cigarrenfabrik Camenzind & Co., Altenburg near Leipzig. On September 6, 1951 the East German state took over the management of foreign assets in the GDR and all rights of shareholders were suspended. In 1952 the head office in Leipzig was closed and in 1965 the cigar factory in Altenburg closed. In 1993, state supervision was lifted and the company was liquidated. I also have seen this letter scale with an advertising print for: F. Heinze Friseur Elgersburg. And with the engraved name Berger u. Wirth. Berger & Wirth was a paint factory from Leipzig. There are probably other copies with engraved or printed advertisements. Below some more pictures of this rocker & letter opener.

animation: [move the pointer over the photo] this letter weighs 19.8 grams: there is no clear preferred position

animation: [move the pointerover the photo] the extra strip of paper of 0.3 grams tilts the scale with a letter of 19.8 grams

animation: [move the pointer over the photo] with a letter of 19.8 grams there is no clear preferred position

engraved the advertisement for W.E.Z. - Cigarren	the border is decorated with a pattern of stripes	Brief Uebergewwichtsanzeiger für 20 Gr. D.R.G.M.
placement on edge of table or desk	the spring of the letter clamp is also the attachment to the scale	This letter weighs less than 20 grams

this shiny brass letter scale is also a letter opener

the letter scale in a pen tray