BRIEF-WAGE
letter scale

maker: unknown, Germany
bruine lijn
letter scale, maker unknown
Brief-Wage letter scale
 

The maker of this letter scale is unknown to me. The dial reads BRIEF-WAGE; this spelling with one A was the official spelling in Germany between 1902 and 1927. The 20 grams are specifically indicated on the dial; on April 1, 1900, the German domestic letter postage rate limit changed from 15 grams to 20 grams. On July 1, 1906, the German postal rate limit for letters sent abroad also changed to 20 grams. The scale housing is made of cast iron. The dial-shaped scale goes from zero to one thousand grams. There is a mark every five grams, and a slightly longer line every twenty-five grams, accompanied by the gram value. The pan is held in the stand by a small stem. This may not be the original top of the scale. The pointer is somewhat clumsily attached to the rotation axis; it looks like a repair.
The Brief-Wage is 20 centimeters high, the diameter of the dial is 8 cm, the housing diameter is 9.2 cm, the scale is 11.6 cm wide and 10 cm deep. The diameter of the brass pan is 12.3 cm.
Below are some more images of the BRIEF-WAGE.

back of the scale
back of the scale
 
side view
side view
 
 
put 500 grams on the scale
animation: put 500 grams on the scale
[move the pointer over the photo]
 
side view
side view
 
 

detail 1
markings every five grams
 
detail 2
BRIEF - WAGE
 
detail 3
figures per 25 grams
 
detail 4
with chestnuts, autumn scene
 
detail 5
autumn scene with chestnuts
 
detail 6
with chestnuts, autumn scene
 
put 100 grams on the scale
animation: put 100 grams on the scale
[move the pointer over the photo]
 
put 300 grams on the scale
animation: put 300 grams on the scale
[move the pointer over the photo]
 
detail 7
the lower part of the cast iron scale house
 
detail 8
the pan might not be the original platter.
 
detail 9
floral decorations on the cast iron scale house
 
detail 7
the brass pan fits, but might not originally belong with it.
 
detail 8
with a fixing pin on the bottom
 
detail 9
the pin fits into the hole of the cast iron stand
 
detail 7
on its side, the letter scale has three support points
 
detail 8
the weighing range of 1000 grams wth markings
every 5 grams
 
detail 9
the open bottom
 
detail 7
the not yet cleaned dial
 
detail 8
the 20 Gramm is listed separately, the hand has been improperly secured
 
detail 9
part of the weighing mechanism is visible at the bottom
 
detail 7
the Brief-Wage is 20 centimeters high
 
detail 8
the cleaned dial
 
detail 9
markings every five grams
 
detail 7
part of the elegant scale house
 
detail 8
the Brief-Wage
 
detail 9
the pan is easy to detach from the scale
 
bruine lijn
« collection part 29 «© copyright André Solversion: October 3, 2026