letter scale

letter scale, supplier John Heath

On this English letter scale or postal balance, the name JOHN HEATH BIRMINGHAM is written on the left of the balance arm, on the right side it says WARRANTED ACCURATE. John Heath Stationary was founded in 1852 and dealt in office supplies. In 1853, he partnered with Thomas Lowe, a manufacturer of steel ink pens. For years, pens were the company's primary sales product. The company also traded in wallets, pens, pencils, pen holders, pocket knives, erasers, drawing instruments, and scientific toys. Letter scales bearing the company's name were also sold. I saw several models, presumably all made by other companies. The John Heath company existed until 1979, when it was acquired by the Dickinson Robinson Group Ltd. (DRG).

back of the letter scale

The postal balance shown here has the English inland postal rates for letters from October 5, 1871 to June 22, 1897, on the letter plate. The letter scale has four weights: 8 ounces, 4 ounces, 2 ounces, and 1 ounce. The front two support feet have been lost and replaced by brass balls. The wooden base measures 24 x 14 centimeters. The maximum height of the letter scale is 11.5 cm. The weight plateau has a diameter of 6.1 cm, and the letter plate measures 9.1 x 7.3 cm.
At the bottom of the page are some pictures of the boxes in which John Heath delivered his pens. There's also a photo of a sheet of paper enclosed in the box advertising other pen models. John Heath advertised his pens in several magazines; see the bottom of the page. Advertisements for other products...
Below are some more images of this letter scale supplied by John Heath from Birmingham.

side view

animation: remove the weights from the recesses [move the pointer over the photo]

side view

front	the English inland letter rates from 5 October 1871 to 22 June 1897	back
the vertical support keeps the plateau straight	at equilibrium the needle is vertical	the vertical support keeps the plateau straight
JOHN HEATH BIRMINGHAM	connecting block, also hinge for the straight holding strips	WARRANTED ACCURATE
the stacked weights	eight ounces, four ounces, two ounces, and one ounce	upside down
from above	JOHN HEATH BIRMINGHAM	two replacement brass ball feet
cardboard box of John Heath Telephone pen	package insert advertising other pens	display of John Heath's pens
front of cardboard box of John Heath Steel pen	advertisement in The Graphic of March 3, 1883	back of cardboard box of John Heath Steel pen

advertisement in The Christian of September 5, 1907