letter balance from England
This equal-arm balance is a strange specimen. The wooden box on which the scale is mounted and in which the lower connecting rods are concealed, was most likely made much later as a replacement. The balance letter plate shows the letter postal rates up to 16 ounces. But there are only three recesses for the ½ oz, 1oz, and 2oz weights, respectively. The other weights are missing and no recesses have been made for it, perhaps to make it less noticeable. The wooden box has a bottom plate, the bottom part of the scale is only visible after the bottom plate has been removed. The fixed lower pivot part of the rods is not original but functions well. The important tilting axes are solidly executed on steel bushings. This balance model is known from J. & R. Ratcliff and from Waterlow & Sons. Their balances are much more solid and heavier, with additional cross connections between the balance arms and often provided with very special square weights with a flat round button.
back of the letter balance
