LETTER BALANCE
S. MORDAN & CO.

letter balance, maker S. Mordan & Co. from the period 1871-1885

This letter balance was made by Sampson Mordan & Co from London in England. S. Mordan & Co. has made many different balances. Characteristics solid, quality, craftsmanship. In addition, the company mainly made mechanical pencils, compasses, locks and gold and silver luxury objects. Sampson Mordan (1770-1843) started his own firm in 1815. In October 1823 he started a collaboration with Gabriel Riddle, this lasted until December 20, 1836. After that he continued with his own company. After his death in 1843, his sons Sampson Jr. and Augustus took over the company. After 1898 the company continued under the name S. Mordan & Co. Ltd. During the Second World War the company was bombed to the ground. In 1952 it was voluntarily liquidated. The balance shown here with the five associated weights is difficult to date because the applicable English postal rates are not shown on this balance. The weights are 2, 1, ½, ¼ ounce, and 4 drams which is equal to ¼ ounce, which is 4 ounces together.

back of the balance

The quarter ounce was used in the early days of the English postal service as a weight limit for letters sent abroad. For mail to France, ⅓ ounce and ⅔ ounces are used as weight limits. Half ounces were used in postal limits within Great Britain in the period from 1839 to October 5, 1871. This balance probably dates from the period 1839 - 1871.
There is a thin protective layer on the underside of the wooden base. The number 1328 is stamped there. I don't know the meaning of that. The dimensions of the wooden base are 15.7 by 8.9 by 2.1 centimeters. The diameter of the letter plate is 4.7 centimeters, the plate for the weights is 3.8 centimeters round. The balance is 7.2 centimeters high.
Letter balances by Mordan previously shown on this website are the Parkins & Gotto, this Mordan, this Mordan, and this Mordan. The fixed middle part of the balances differs in geometry, the letter plateaus are round or rectangular, the wooden base may or may not be on four feet, the number and size of the weights varies, etc., etc.
Below are some more images of this letter balance from S. Mordan & Co. from London.

side view

the fixed middle part has a bell shape

side view

the name of the maker	a thick wooden base	the location
straight vertical stem under the weight plateau	the vertical arrow indicates equilibrium	straight vertical stem under the letter plateau
the balance complete with the weights	the weights removed	the balance and the five weights
the weight of two ounces	the 4 drams weight next to the stacked ounce weights	the marks on the bottom of the two ounce weight
upside down	the bottom	the number 1328 on the bottom