FERTIG

The FERTIG of Ph. J. Maul has been described in the Deutsches Reich Patentschrift with DRP number 228054. The patent was granted by the Kaiserliches Patentamt and the patentee is the firm Ph. J. Maul in Hamburg. The patent started August 28, 1909. The patent was published November 1, 1910. The distinguishing feature of the FERTIG is the indicator, which is built like an extra pendulum, and thus acts like a self-adjusting mechanism. Placed on a slope the chart will rotate to a new resting position, but this type of indicator simply follows the chart to this new zero position. A separate leveling zero adjusting screw is not necessary with this design of letter scale. One may notice a small difference between the drawing of the patent and the actual scale: the tripod of the frame looks like to be taken from another model of scale. The patent shows a tripod better attuned to the proportions and measures of the design.

figure 1 of the patent

Many different models of the FERTIG are known. The base of the frame may have a different shape, sometimes the weighing plateau is different. One could buy this letter scale with a steel tripod, a more luxurious bronze base, or with a crystal base. The range of the letter scale shown is 250 grams. Other known ranges are: 50 grams, 100 grams, 150 grams, 250 grams, 500 grams, and since 1912 also 350 grams and 1000 grams. Also, models with British ounces or Russian Loths on the charts are made for export. The special FERTIG logo was registered as trademark at the Reichspatentamt on March 16, 1912 with the number 159940, 2½ years after the start of the production. Letters sent abroad from German countries, and also sent domestic within certain countries, had a rate limit at 15 grams. Therefore this value is indicated separately at the charts. An extensive article concerning the FERTIG has been published in Mass & Gewicht, March 1990, pp. 272-279.

Below some more photos of my FERTIG scale.

even in an inclined position scale still starts at zero always ready to weigh = "immer Fertig" in German	separate 15 grams indication on the chart	indicator pendulum side view of lower end
top view	name of model in logo	DRP marking on pendulum arm of indicator