51/256/1-3

Beam scales consisting of wooden pans, made from turned beech, with an iron bar to support them and were hung by the handle in the middle.
Nothing is known of the origin of these beam scales. They consist of wooden pans, made from turned beech, with an iron bar to support them and were hung by the handle in the middle.

1 set of beam scales: metal (iron); wood (beech)

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Nothing is known of the origin of these scales. They consist of wooden pans, turned from beech wood and an iron cross bar to support them. The cross bar is 20.5 inches in length and has a loose handle in the middle by which the scales were hung up. There is also an ornamental projection in the middle. The ends of the bar bend upwards and terminate in loops. The pans were attached to these loops by hooks joining these pieces of coarse string knotted beneath the rims of the pans. One of the hooks also has a small bag of shot attached to it. The pans are cracked and have been mended with string. See also 52/211.', MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/256 // NAME: BUTTER SCALES // NEG NO.: 35/183 // STORAGE: '

Wood, beech, Metal, iron