Description:
Set of folding coin scales in an oval wooden box with the lid decorated with inscribed floral sprays in panels and an elaborate brass latch and two brass cotter pins, which contains steel balance beam and 2 copper pans of unequal size suspended from brass and copper swan neck pivots by cord, and a set of 6 brass weights stamped with circles and numbers. The interior of the lid has a paper label printed, "Samuell Freeman / aty Plorv over against ye...ter pot in Leavenhall sti.../ Maketh all sorts of scales, waites, and stilyards" and "1689" written on wood. In 1770, Samuel Freeman, a blacksmith and scalemaker operating from 117 Leadenhall Street, supplied scales to the Bank of England. Smaller, portable scales, which were either held in the hand for weighing or hung from a metal stand, used the Roman system of the scruple, drachm, grain. These beam scales were used to measure the overall quantity of metal such as coins brought in by a client or provided by the silversmith for fashioning an object; measure the mixture of metals for solder in deterimining the amount of metal needed for casting; and calculate the client's cost by weight of finished piece. Brass weights have been used tradtionally since brass can be milled to exact weights. These scales were also used by apotheicaries and physicians for weighing and compounding drugs and calculating fees. The box has a large velvet-lined compartment for the scales, and a small square compartment with a lid and small round, open compartment.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+96.803 |
