pocket letter scale Perry & Co
This small letter scale has the name Perry & Co. The firm Perry & Co did sell letter scales but bought them themselves, among others from Samuel Turner Senior (STS) and as is clear from this model, from Narcisse Briais. Compare this scale with this Loth letter scale by Narcisse Briais. The firm Perry & Co has been active under this name in Englans since 1866. More detailed information can be found on the page of Grace's Guide on Perry and Co. The firm produced all kind of steel dip pens, nibs, writing equipment and such, chains for bicycles and motorcycles and such. Perry & Co. provided a comprehensive range of stationery and office supplies. the firm had branches in New York, Paris, Frankfurt and Brussels. Perry & Co. started September 1, 1866 a warehouse in Amsterdam. Later they expanded to include among others Den Haag, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Groningen and Arnhem. Previously, a Perry & Co balance was shown on this website, see this letter balance.
This small letter scale in grams was intended for use in countries on the mainland of Europe, this copy came from Sweden. The weighing range is 30 grams. The indication on the scale of 7½ grams is striking and strange because that weight limit within France was already changed as of January 1, 1862 to 10 grams. The scale will therefore have been devised before 1862. Only in postal traffic between France and Great Britain (from 1833) and between France and Prussia (from 1837) until 1875 the tariff per 7½ grams was classified. So the 22½ grams was also a weight limit, but it is not on this scale. Perry & Co also had this model with a scale 0 to 1 ounce.
Below some more images of this pocket letter scale.
back of the letter scale
