the OWA weight lifting letter scale - Otto Bielig Hubgewichtswaage | This hefty letter scale was made by Oschatzter Waagenfabrik Otto Bielig, from Oschatz, Germany. This scale factory was founded in 1922. This scale was intended for use in larger companies and at post offices. It is a weight lifting letter scale in which one arm of the mechanism picks up more and more counterweights when a heavier load is placed on the letter platform until a balance is found. The scale has seven weight limits that it can exceed, namely 20, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 grams. With a load above 2000 grams, the arm will hit a stop. With an over or underweight of a few tenths of a gram, the pointer moves to the nearest higher or lower weight zone. To prevent a long lasting oscillation of the scale mechanism, an oil damper has been applied to the moving scale arm. This OWA letter scale can be read on the two long sides. The postal rates are clearly arranged. For rate adjustments, a new rate card must be affixed to both sides of the scale. This letter scale model is best known with the brand name Bizerba. I don't know what the relationship is between Bizerba and the Oschatzer Waagenfabrik Otto Bielig. The dimensions: base plate 33 x 18 cm, scale house 28.5 x 16.5 x 22 cm high, letter plate 11 x 11 cm at 28.5 cm height. This letter scale is heavy, namely 10.3 kilograms! The scale has three adjustable feet and a vial helps to level the scale. | other side of the letter scale |
In Germany, the first letter scale of this type was approved for calibration at the beginning of February 1933. My OWA copy dates from December 1941. In 1946 the Oschatzer Waag Fabrik Otto Bielig was expropriated by the East German state.
The idea to achieve an increasing counterweight with multiple weight rolls, or rolling pins, was already applied in England in a letter scale on August 12, 1840 by Robert Willis and patented in the English patent no.8384. Rein Kok wrote in Meten & Wegen No.118 June 2002, pp.2808-2810 about the Bizerba Hubgewichtswaage in an article with the title: Een oude brievenweger in moderne uitvoering. (This is Dutch, translated: An Old Letter Scale in a modern design).
Below are some images of this robust letter scale.
the letter scale without the scale housing, without the postal rates plates and without the oil damper |
the seven weight rolls seen from above |
the seven postal weight classes in the old typeface |
the side with calibration lead area, spirit level, and brand plate |
the lead with stamped banderole calibration mark |
the spirit level indicates level |
this side has two adjustable feet |
Otto Bielig's brand plate from December 1941 |
the adjustable feet have a securing lock nut |
the lead seal with calibration office mark |
on both sides the seal is like this |
the seal on the other side of the scale |
cup with fine adjustment lead balls |
the cup in the right place |
the lead balls are in the cup |
« collection part 22 « | © copyright André Sol | version: November 30, 2021 |