candlestick letter scale seen from the left
This letter scale design is known as candlestick. The scale depicted here was intended for use in France considering the measurement scale is divided in grammes. This candlestick was made by Joseph & Edmund Ratcliff of Birmingham in England. The weighing range is 60 grammes. On the left side of the scale is 0, 7½, and 15 grammes. On the right side are the values 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 grammes. The postal weight limit for letters of 7½ grammes was valid in France until January 1, 1862. Then the first postal weight limit for letters became 10 grammes. Only in the postal traffic between France and Britain (since 1833 until 1875) and between France and Prussia (since 1837 until 1875) the postal weight limits still were divided per 7½ grammes.
The most famous English names are R.W. Winfield (Robert Walker) and J. & E. Ratcliff (Joseph & Edmund).
More information is offered in Equilibrium 2006 issue no.1, Brian Brass, Candlesticks, Part 1, pp.3099-3109 and in Equilibrium 2006 no.2, Brian Brass, Candlesticks, Part 2, pp.3127-3133.
Below some more pictures of this early old letter scale.
candlestick letter scale seen from the right
