first German letter scale
with a standing letter plate

This is the first German letter scale with a standing letter plate or top-pan. The letter scale is attributed to Gottlieb Kern & Sohn. This company started in 1844 in Onstmettingen in Württemberg and later moved to Ebingen also in Württemberg. The letter scale has a very low auxiliary lever pivot. The frame is made of cast iron. The chart was silver-plated brass, the silver layer has almost completely worn away. The first copies of this letter scale model were sold on June 28, 1851. This scale model can be found in the catalogs of various scale suppliers. At Gottl. Kern & Sohn itself until the end of the 1930s. A few different replica versions were made by Kern in 1994 to mark their 150th anniversary. Two models of letter scales with a flat plateau, weighing up to 100 grams and 250 grams respectively, see this replica. Also two scales with a saucer-shaped scale for weighing for example small items, herbs or tobacco, also weighing up to 100 grams and up to 250 grams respectively.
The height of the letter scale shown here is 18 cm. The brass letter tray is not original, it was made by me to complete the letter scale. The diameter of this letter tray is 7 cm.
Below some more pictures of this oldest German letter scale.