Columbus letter scale in ounces by Ph.J. Maul
This Columbus letter scale was made by Philipp Jakob Maul from Hamburg in Germany. The model has been shown before, see here and also a heavier version with a weighing range of 1000 grams. The Columbus shown here was made for the UK, US and Canadian markets. The scales go up to four ounces (=113.4g) and sixteen ounces (=453.6g). The lower scale is subdivided per eighth ounce, the upper scale is subdivided per quarter ounce.
Front left of the letter scale reads MADE IN GERMANY and next to it the dates of two US patents and a Canadian patent. Those patents are in the name of Paul Frost from Berlin in Germany, they are patent US815414 and patent US833922. The Canadian patent CA106304 is currently not visible online, probably that patent is also in the name of Frost and is equal to the first mentioned American patent. Patent US815414 is equal to the German patent DE167192 from 1904. That patent is in the name of AUTOMAT Aktien-Gesellschaft from Berlin, see at Columbus Bilateral. There is also an Austro-Hungarian patent Oest. Ung. Pat. 25487 from 1906, which is also registered to Automat Aktien-Gesellschaft.
The M logo of Ph.J. Maul is in the top short lever. In the beautiful cast iron base is the name COLUMBUS. Postal Information is written on the letter plate, which unfortunately can hardly be read. Still readable is Foreign & Colonial Letters. And To all British Possessions, Egypt & H.M. Ships of War serving .... 1d per oz. To all other places 2½d for the first oz. & 1½d for each additional oz. This letter scale was therefore intended for use in England. The foreign rate was in any case valid from October 1907.
The letter scale is 20 centimeters high, the base is 13.5 x 9.2 cm. The letter plate is 11.5 cm round.
Below are some more images of this Columbus for the English-speaking market, and of a few more almost identical Columbus letter scales.
back of the Columbus letter scale
