Two Old (Assay?) Scales?

Sheldon_Overton_Baby

Something I know zero about. Not sure what you boys and girls can tell me from the pictures:

Hemispherical

Is there a data/manufacture plate on the case?

Does it still work? Looks like you are only missing two weights?

ReadyFireAim

@Sheldon_Overton_Baby said:
Something I know zero about.

My chemistry teacher would harshly correct anyone using the term "scale" to refer to a balance.
Scales use springs and balances compare mass.

I'm not that pedantic but watch out

Namvet69

Someone needs to find makers mark, patent stamp, or any other identifying info. Nice looking travel balance beam. Peace Roy

mr1931S

Probably not old American since the weights are in "Grams"? Should be Troy weights if old American.

ReadyFireAim

@mr1874 said:
Probably not old American since the weights are in "Grams"? Should be Troy weights if old American.

My great uncle taught chemistry around 1950 and I had one of his mass sets...It was in grams.

Helpful hint...Balances can be used on other planets or moons & are just as accurate.
Scales require correction factors and can be inconvenient.
They are also immune to gravity surges if that's a problem where you live.

thebeav

I can't see enough of the first one, but the second one is not 'old'. At least, in the way we think of old.
I've sold quite a few balances, and they really need to be 'special' in some way in order to get as little as 150.00 out of them. I'm not seeing it in these.

ricko

Nice set... I found a mini set of old weights at a local school flea market three years ago.... in great condition/all there, in a wooden container (like above) and I picked it up for a couple of dollars...Cheers, RickO

CaptHenway

@ReadyFireAim said:

@mr1874 said:
Probably not old American since the weights are in "Grams"? Should be Troy weights if old American.

My great uncle taught chemistry around 1950 and I had one of his mass sets...It was in grams.

Helpful hint...Balances can be used on other planets or moons & are just as accurate.
Scales require correction factors and can be inconvenient.
They are also immune to gravity surges if that's a problem where you live.

I used to suffer from gravity surges every Monday morning before I retired!

Zoins

These look great.

There were a lot of scales in the Eric Newman XI sale last month. Here's a set of 6 I was following that sold for $24,000.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/miscellaneous/six-counterfeit-coin-detectors-of-various-designs-very-good-to-fine-the-first-item-is-an-ingenious-circular-coin-gauge-by-john/a/1283-15691.s?ic16=ViewItem-BrowseTabs-Auction-Archive-ThisAuction-120115

ReadyFireAim

Any antique balance capable of reliably detecting a difference between a genuine coin & a counterfeit one would be enclosed in a glass box and have a whole bunch of stuff written all over it. If that's what your going for, I'll try and find a picture.

Here you go...Believe it or not, we still used these things in 1990 in quantitative analysis.
(My professor was older than dirt so that may have been why)

RogerB

Merchant portable balance. Common and worth little even if complete and is perfect condition. Still manufactured and used in rural middle eastern, African, and Asian markets.