Lichfield District Council
Large Set of Balance Scales - City of Lichfield Official Scales - By W. and T. Avery of Birmingham - 19th Century (137.16x83.82cm)
Location: Lichfield District Council
Accession number: 1984.1.54 (A)
Have you ever been shortchanged?
What if that pound of sugar wasn't quite a pound?
How do you know the seller isn't taking advantage of you?
These problems have troubled people for centuries.
One answer was to have an official set of weights and measures, against which all other weights could be measured. This would make sure traders weren't using doctored weights to ripoff customers.
This set of scales was commissioned by the City of Lichfield in the mid-19th Century. They formed part of the City's official set of measures, which provided set measurements which could be applied across the City.
The scales consist of two round, lipped brass pans or dishes. These dishes are suspended by chains from two hooks on either side of a cast iron balance beam.
The balance beam itself is coated in black paint with gold detailing. The balance beam bears the name of the manufacturer and the "City of Lichfield" on either arm. Two hooks located at either end of the beam terminate in bird head designs.
The balance beam hangs and rotates within a cast iron hook.
These scales were produced by W. and T. Avery, a Birmingham based firm which rose to dominate the scale making industry in the 19th and early 20th Century.
Large Set of Balance Scales - City of Lichfield Official Scales - By W. and T. Avery of Birmingham - 19th Century (137.16x83.82cm)
Location: Lichfield District Council
Accession number: 1984.1.54 (A)
Have you ever been shortchanged?
What if that pound of sugar wasn't quite a pound?
How do you know the seller isn't taking advantage of you?
These problems have troubled people for centuries.
One answer was to have an official set of weights and measures, against which all other weights could be measured. This would make sure traders weren't using doctored weights to ripoff customers.
This set of scales was commissioned by the City of Lichfield in the mid-19th Century. They formed part of the City's official set of measures, which provided set measurements which could be applied across the City.
The scales consist of two round, lipped brass pans or dishes. These dishes are suspended by chains from two hooks on either side of a cast iron balance beam.
The balance beam itself is coated in black paint with gold detailing. The balance beam bears the name of the manufacturer and the "City of Lichfield" on either arm. Two hooks located at either end of the beam terminate in bird head designs.
The balance beam hangs and rotates within a cast iron hook.
These scales were produced by W. and T. Avery, a Birmingham based firm which rose to dominate the scale making industry in the 19th and early 20th Century.