inkstand with letter scale

maker: unknown, France
bruine lijn
inkstand with letter scale, maker unknown
inkstand with letter scale
 

The maker of this silver letter scale with inkstand is unknown to me. The letter scale model is typically French, see for example the previously shown letter scale of Narcisse Briais. The letter scale was heavily oxidized when purchased and the upright was broken, a wooden stick connected the broken parts. Both jars and one of the four feet were missing from the ink set. At the bottom of the page are photos of the letter scale set when purchased. On a gamble, I bought yet another incomplete ink set on the internet. It did have two jars, one for sand and one for ink, and four feet. Unfortunately, the caps of both jars were missing. Those jars appear to fit exactly in the holes of the incomplete ink set with letter scale. Then everything is disassembled. The silver parts have been cleaned and brought back to shine. The upright has been repaired with a piece of stainless steel tube in the upright and some soft solder. The missing fourth foot has been placed.
Some lines are engraved in the silver round base of the letter scale. At the top, a partly readable Dutch text line, the first word is: ZANGKOOR followed by probably the name of that choir, which I can't read yet. Below it reads: 1862 5/10 1887. This points to a twenty-fifth anniversary in 1887. Whether the founding date is October 5 (5/10) or May 10 remains unclear for the time being. I don't know if there is a database on Dutch choirs, I'd love to hear about it.
The letter scale weighs up to 100, there is no indication for grams on the scale. The scale still shows the former postal weight limit of 7½ grams, this weight limit was never used in the Netherlands. The wooden base measures 27 x 19 centimeters. The tip of the upright is the highest point and is 22.5 centimeters high. The largest diameter of the silver base is 7.7 centimeters.
Below are many more images of this incomplete but still beautiful silver jubilee inkstand with letter scale.
 

backof the inkstand
back of the inkstand with letter scale
 
two positions
animation:
loaded with a weight of 50 grams
[move the pointer over the photo]
moving the inkwells
animation:
putting the inkwells in place
[move the pointer over the photo]
two positions
animation:
loaded with a weight of 100 grams
[move the pointer over the photo]

detail 1
intermediate stripes at 5, 7½ and 15 grams
in addition, always subdivided per 10 grams
detail 2
the silver letter scale
 
detail 3
a weighing range of 100 grams
 
detail 4
the scale with some cards
 
detail 5
the unloaded letter scale from above
 
detail 6
seen from behind
 
detail 7
with some effort part of the engraved text is legible: zangkoor
 
 
detail 8
below that 1862 5/10 1887
it was apparently a twenty five year anniversary gift
 
detail 9
so far the name of the choir is a mystery to me
 
 
detail 10
the inkstand now has four feet
 
detail 11
the intermediate stripes at 5, 7½ and 15 grams
 
detail 12
the recesses for the inkwells well in view
 
detail 13
unfortunately the silver caps of the jars are missing
 
detail 14
the inkstand shines again
 
detail 15
the refurbished set
 
detail 16
on 3 feet, broken upright and no inkwells
 
detail 17
heavily oxidized silver
 
detail 18
on 3 feet, broken upright and no inkwells
 
detail 19
the letter scale with a part of the broken upright
 
detail 20
heavily oxidized silver
 
detail 21
disassembled for cleaning and repair
 
bruine lijn
« collection part 24 «© copyright André Solversion: April 14, 2022