ERWEA letter scale, maker: Pelouze, U.S.A.
This letter scale was specially made for the company Gebroeders Rikkers in Amsterdam in the Netherlands by Pelouze Scale and Manufacturing Company from Chicago, USA. At the bottom of the curved measuring scale is the name ERWEA. In Dutch this is the pronunciation of the three letters RWA: ER--WE--A. RWA is the abbreviation of Rikkers Waren Amsterdam and is a protected trademark of Gebroeders Rikkers. The measuring scale up to 500 grams has stripes per 5 grams. The scale has the postal rates for letters, printed matter and samples for the Netherlands and abroad. In addition, the letter and printed matter rates to the East and West Indies by sea mail are listed at the bottom.
These Dutch rates were valid in the period from October 1, 1908 to November 1, 1919. The patent dates on the bottom are June 2, 1896; March 29, 1898; March 10, 1903; and May 26, 1903. The current unambiguous designations are the patent numbers: US561309; US601273; US722618; and US729207. The patents are also partly listed on the STAR of Pelouze, see there. The plateau has two raised decorative edges. Both sides of the scale housing have a sticker with Quality Pelouze and Pelouze MfG. Co., Chicago as text. The ERWEA letter scale partly resembles the Union and the Columbian both also made by Pelouze.
Below are some more images of this special ERWEA letter scale.
back of the letter scale
