LETTER SCALE
B. HOLSBOER
LETTER BALANCE

maker: B. Holsboer, Arnhem, Netherlands bruine lijn

weger

This 43 centimeter high letter scale bears the name of the maker and the place of business on the brass scale: B. HOLSBOER ARNHEM. B. Holsboer's company started on August 3, 1867. The founder was Berend Holsboer (1832 - 1895†).
The measuring scale up to 100 grams is subdivided per gram. Striking are the number 1 at the mark of 15 grams, the number 2 below the 50 grams, and the number 3 below the 100 grams. The meaning of this is simple: up to 15 grams 1 stamp is sufficient, above that up to 50 grams 2 stamps are required, and above 50 grams up to 100 grams 3 stamps are required, for domestic letter franking. In the book Binnenlandse en Internationale Posttarieven van Nederland 1850-1990 [Dutch, translated: Domestic and International Postal Rates of the Netherlands 1850-1990] by Mr. W.S. da Costa this rate is found to be in effect from September 1, 1855 to March 15, 1882. The postage required was 5 cents through 15 grams, 10 cents (2x5) through 50 grams, and 15 cents (3x5) from 50 to 100 grams. On the Holsboer letter scales shown earlier, the 100 grams, the 250 grams, and the 200 grams this letter postage designation is also used, see the relevant pages and the photos at the bottom of this page. Several parts of this letter scale have the number 7.
I saw this letter scale on an internet site with second-hand articles. The scale was not complete. The letter platform and the long vertically standing tube containing the upper shaft with pointed ends were missing. Also, the upper threaded end of the lower vertical port-shaped part was missing. I determined the permitted weight of the missing parts by hanging weights on a temporary axle until the pointer of the letter scale reached zero grams. With some measuring it became clear how long the replacement tube had to be. This has been verified with a square

back of the letter scale

wooden slat. A beer mat temporarily became the letter plate. The diameter of the letter plate was determined by measuring a comparable plate of another scale and calculating the plate weight for different plate thicknesses. The letter scale parts were then disassembled, cleaned and polished. With the jigsaw I sawed a new letter plate from brass plate and then perfected the circular shape with a file and a lot of patience. A tiny cylindrical rod is placed in a thicker cylindrical rod as a centering aid and soldered together at the bottom of the new plate, which now connects the plate with the tube part. I have kept the large measuring scale holder with the upper short lever part, the fixed pointer, and also the lower short lever in the original blackness. A number of the posted photos show the provisional steps that preceded the restoration of this Holsboer letter scale. At the very bottom are the other Holsboer letter scales for comparison.
In Meten & Wegen No. 113 of March 2001, on pp.2688-2689 is the article by R.J. Kok with the title Brievenwegers van Berend Holsboer. It shows the same 100 grams Holsboer in image 3, that copy is marked with 33.
Below are some more images of this letter scale or, as indicated by Holsboer himself in advertisements, this letter balance, which can be dated to the period 1867 - 1882.

animation: load the letter scale with 50 grams
[move the pointer over the photo]

animation: load the letter scale with 50 or 100 grams
[move the pointer over the photo]

animation: load the letter scale with 100 grams
[move the pointer over the photo]

side view	front view	side view
from 0 to 15 grams 1 stamp	from 15 to 50 grams 2 stamps	from 50 to 100 grams 3 stamps

the maker's name B. HOLSBOER is in the brass measuring scale

the company location ARNHEM is in the brass scale

the brass ball on the top of the upright	the added self-made letter plate	the position of the pointer is fixed and cannot be adjusted
the main pivot point	the measuring scale protrudes through the port at the bottom of the vertical tube	the added self-made shaft with pointed ends
the axis of the foot of the lower short lever	the axis between the lower short lever and the vertical upright tube	the brass counterweight
the measuring scale protrudes through the gate	the letter scale is horizontal	bottom of the tripod
the scale mechanism on the brass upright	the brass leveling screw	2 fixed support points and 1 adjustable support point

the incomplete letter scale as purchased	the affected scale and parts secured with cellotape	the back of the incomplete letter scale
determination of the part weight to set the measurement scale of the letter scale to zero at rest	the provisionally completed scale with a wooden slat, tie wrap, thumbtack, and a beer mat	a SOL beer mat is attached to the end of the wooden slat with a thumbtack
a provisional axle through the wooden slat	the completed letter scale is at rest at zero	the provisional letter plate, a SOL beer mat, from above