English letter balance from 1897-1915
This letter balance is from England. The maker is not known, there is no brand on the scale. It is a balance with its own set of weights. The weights are called bottle-weights in the Handbook of old weighing instruments of Michael Crawforth. Each weight stands in its own recess. The weights are 16 - 8 - 4 - 2 ounces, 1 ounce and 2 pieces of ½ ounce. The total to put on the balance is 32 ounces (=2 Lbs = 2 English pounds). On the small platform, the seven weights can only be placed at the same time by stacking.
On the letter plate you will find the following English postal rate information:
inland letter post up to 4 ounces costs 1D, above 4 ounces each additional 2 ounces another ½D extra. (The penny is indicated with the letter D, this comes from the Latin word Denarius). For sample post use the rates for letters. For books the rate is ½ D per 2 ounces, and each additional 2 ounces also ½ D. These British postal rates were valid between July 22, 1897 and November 1, 1915.
The wooden base size is 28 x 16 centimeters. The height of the letter balance is 15 centimeters.
Below some more pictures of this balance for weighing letters and books.
back of the letter scale
