letter scale, maker unknown
This weighing mechanism is a well-known French design. See for example this Briais scale and also this Briais scale. These are quite old letter scales from France. This model is shown on a product poster from June 1891. The same model can be found with a scale that still separately indicates the value 7½, so that version likely dates from before 1862. The design is by Narcisse-Eugène Briais of Paris, usually called simply Narcisse Briais. Narcisse Briais was an instrument maker who produced letter scales and balances between 1859 and 1886. The NB logo, the trademark of Narcisse Briais, is not on this letter scale. The letter scale shown here is most likely much more recent. The scale has a remarkable number of indications of the value 5. A unit of measure is missing, but it is gram. The scale base is beautiful. The platter is dish-shaped. A floral motif is faintly visible on the top surface. A zero-adjustment screw is missing.
The letter scale shown here is 25.5 centimeters high, the base measures 10.6 x 10.6 cm and the diameter of the letter tray is 9.0 cm.
Below are some more images of this letter scale based on a French model.
back of the letter scale
