"Fast-Mail" letter scale combination
This is a combination of a letter scale with an inkstand, pen rack and a chest of drawers to store stamps and pens. The combination was named "Fast-Mail" and was sold by The Triner Scale and MfG. Co., of Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.. The 1902-1904 advertisements show a slightly different version. The first versions had the GEM from Triner as a letter scale. The model shown here has the RELIANCE as a letter scale. The silver-coloured flower decorations are also not yet on the first versions. On the spring housing of the scale is the patent date Feb. 23, 1904. That patent is in the name of James M. Triner and describes a letter scale in which two tension springs are used. A light one for light and a heavier one for heavier mail items. This RELIANCE has only one tension spring. Mentioning that patent may have been done to impress. The inkwells in the photos are probably of a more recent date. On other copies, the caps are more convex in shape and appear to be chrome-plated or nickel-plated. The scale of this RELIANCE letter scale shows the rate of 2 Dollar cents per ounce for letter mail within the U.S.A., this rate was valid from July 1, 1885 to November 3, 1917. Taking the patent date mentioned into account, the manufacturing period for this letter scale can be be limited from February 23, 1904 to November 3, 1917.
The weighing range is 8 ounces and is per ½ ounce subdivided. The base plate measures 18 x 16.5 cm and the scale is 18 cm high.
Below are some more images of the Triner "Fast-Mail".
back of the Fast-Mail postal scale
