PARCEL & LETTER SCALE

maker: unknown, England bruine lijn

parcel & letter scale from England

This sturdy balance is made for weighing parcels, letters, and books. The relevant English postal rates are listed on the rectangular plate. The rate for parcels applied from June 1, 1897, to July 2, 1906. The letter rate applied from June 22, 1897, to November 1, 1915. The rate for books applied from June 22, 1897, to November 1, 1915. This postal scale can therefore be dated to the short period from June 22, 1897, to July 2, 1906. The balance has a very thick wooden base that stands on four round legs. The scale version with vertical plate uprights through holes in the base and stabilization strips under the base has been shown previously with this unbranded letter balance. There, the stabilizing strips are concealed from view by a completely closed box. Waterlow & Sons also sold balances on a box-shaped base where the bottom was left open. These sturdy balances, constructed entirely differently, were probably made by J. & E. Ratcliff.

back of the parcel & letter scale

The vertical plate uprights have a closed ring, through which the one-piece continuous pivot shaft passes. The three stacks of weights are very likely not the original weights supplied with the balance. Two stacks of weights are made of brass and the third stack is made of cast iron.
The base measures 35.3 x 19.8 x 3.5 centimeters. The legs are 5.2 cm long, the largest leg diameter is 3.6 cm. The external diameter of the weight plate is 10.0 cm. The letter plate is 14.3 x 13.5 cm. The highest point of the balance is 19.1 cm. Below are some images of this parcel and letter scale.

side view

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

side view

the round plate for the weights

the fixed weighing frame is attached to the wooden base with four screws

at equilibrium, the iron needle in the middle stands vertically

warranted accurate	these English postal rates for parcels, letters, and books date the balance to the short period from June 22, 1897, to July 2, 1906	the brass stabilization strips hidden at the base are clearly visible here
the closed circle in the upright under the plate enables a continuous, one-piece tilting shaft	the closed circle in the upright under the plate enables a continuous, one-piece tilting shaft	the through-holes in the wooden base have a brass collar
brass weights of 2 Lbs, 1 Lb, 8 oz, 4 oz, 2 oz and 1 oz	brass weights of 8 oz, 4 oz, 2 oz, 1 oz, 8 drams (= ½ oz) and ¼ oz	cast iron weights of 1 Lb, 8 oz, 4 oz, 2 oz, 1 oz and ½ oz
from a diagonal angle from the front	the weights in front of the scale	from a diagonal angle from the front
the polished letter scale	still dirty and unpolished here	the four sturdy round wooden legs of the scale

« collection part 29 «

version: June 26, 2026