The scales were made by Harrison (Birmingham), founded 1898, which went on to become Harrison Drape. Balance scales for full and half sovereigns also measured the circumference and the thickness. As gold is one of the heaviest metals one way to forge a sovereign in brass would be to make it slightly larger to make up the weight. This clever invention put a stop to that.An item from an outstanding and diverse collection of photographs, postcards and artefacts, assembled by members of the Christian and Washfold families of Kew. Harrison Brass Sovereign Rocker Coin Scale in original leather container. The balance scale for full and half sovereigns also measured the circumference and the thickness. It was made from the 1850s to the early 1900s. Scales in perfect condition.cairn scales, sovereign rocker scale, christian-washfold collection

This type of balance scales allows precise measurements to be achieved by ensuring that the balance's fulcrum is essentially friction-free by attaching a pointer to the beam which amplifies any deviation from a balance position; and finally by using the lever principle, which allows fractional masses to be applied by movement of a small mass along the measuring arm of the beam. The standardization of the weights used – and ensuring traders used the correct weights – was a considerable preoccupation of governments throughout this time and inspections were held regularly. When the Weights and Measures Act was passed in Victoria in 1862 local inspectors were established throughout the colony to ensure accuracy particularly in the weighing of gold. By the 1870's each local council had a set of standards that were used to test the scales, weights and measures of local merchants and businesses.Set of small scales possibly from a travelling boxed set due to their small size, similar to those used in an apothecary and weighing gold. Scales have two round brass pans with a cross bar and chains and pointer central on the lever arm. At top of lever arm above pointer is a small leather tag from which to hold up the scales. city of greater bendigo commerce, making a nation exhibition, city of greater bendigo mining

An original Kerr-Grant Microbalance, modified by E.J.Hartung This balance was invented in the chemistry department by Bertram Dillon Steele, later first Professor of Chemistry at the University of Queensland 1910-1930, in collaboration with Professor Kerr Grant, Physics. The design was widely used by other chemists, including Masson's mentor, Professor Ramsay, working in London on newly discovered rare gases (especially Radon), and Professor Hartung in Melbourne, investigating the chemistry of the decomposition of silver salts in photographic processes. The principle of the microbalance was to measure the change in density of a gas by the shift in the balancing beam due to a change in pressure of the gas in the balance case. The quartz balancing beam was made by Bertram Steele who was particularly skilled in glassblowing. A quartz beam is the beam of the Aston microbalance based on the Steele/Grant instrument, and described by F.W. Aston, the inventor of the mass spectrometer. The bulb at one end of the beam contained a fixed amount of air, so that a change in the pressure of gas in the balance case changed the buoyancy of the beam, yielding a displacement in the beam which could be measured. By this means, differences in weight of about 10 nanogram could be measured, in amounts of up to 0.1 gram. Such differences are significant the increase in weight of a metal sample due to surface oxidation (Steele's interest) in the weight loss due to radioactive decay of Radium (Ramsay's work), and in the estimates of density change due to the isotopic distribution of Neon (Aston). Ernst Johannes Hartung was a chemist and astronomer. Educated at the University of Melbourne (BSc 1913, DSc 1919), he became lecturer in 1919, associate professor in 1924, and succeeded Rivett as chair of chemistry in 1928, remaining in this position until 1953. Hartung?s lecturing style surged with enthusiasm and he employed the use of screen projections to demonstrate chemical phenomena to large undergraduate classes. In 1935 he recorded Brownian movement in colloidal solutions on 35 mm cinefilm, which was later copied onto 16 mm film for the Eastman Kodak Co. World Science Library. This can be viewed in the Chemistry laboratory. He researched the photo decomposition of silver halides, and was awarded the David Syme Prize in 1926. He devoted time to the design and construction of a large, new chemistry building for the School of Chemistry (built 1938?1939). During World War II he was approached by Professor Thomas Laby, chairman of the Optical Munitions Panel, to chair the advisory committee on optical materials, to produce high quality optical glass in Australia. This was successful, with large-scale production achieved within ten months at a reasonable cost. Hartung served three terms as general President of the (Royal) Australian Chemical Institute, was an ex-officio councillor of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and a Trustee of the Museum of Applied Science (now part of Museum Victoria).An original Kerr-Grant Microbalance, modified by E.J. Hartung.

Set of weights for larger, rough balance, from "Mildura" era.

Set of brass scales on a wooden base. With 3 weights - 4 oz. x 2, and 1 oz. x 1.balances, weighing instruments

Brass set of Scales on a wooden base. With 5 weights - 8 oz., 4 oz., 2 oz., 1 oz., 1/2 oz.balances, weighing instruments

Set of brass scales on a wooden base. With 1 weight - 2 oz.balances, weighing instruments

Approximately 100 years old.Set of brass Post office weighing scales, used for weighing letters, with two trays, one rectangular in shape and one round, on a balancing mechanism.The scales are affixed to a wooden base in a rectangular shape with the front edge shaped into two curves. The wooden base has three slots for holding the weights. There are six brass weights with this item.balances, weighing instruments

Sets of scales similar to these were very common in households throughout Australia. Between 1960 and 1988 Australia gradually adopted the SI units (Standard International) or metric units. In 1970 the Australian parliament passed the metric conversion act, and the Australian building trades made it the standard in 1974. This information helps to date the set of weights to before the1970s.Domestic scales such as these were common throughout Australian homes. They are now primarily superceded by plastic items, often electronic.Metal table scales with 6 weights graduated in sizes including 1 oz., 2 oz, 4oz, 8oz, 1lb and 2 lbs. Each weight marked "MACK/ MADE IN AUSTRALIA"domestic appliances, weights and measures australia

Sets of scales similar to these were very common in households throughout Australia in the 19th and 20th centuries. Avery of Birmingham were a British manufacturer of weighing machines. The company was founded in the early 18th century and took the name W & T Avery in 1818. The company produced a wide range of scales ranging from industrial scales and weighbriges to small scales for domestic use, such as these scales. At the time of the death of the last Avery family member in 1918, it employed over 3,000 people and had businesses all over the world. Today it has evolved to become part of the conglomerate, Avery Weigh-Tronix.Domestic scales such as these were common throughout Australian homes. They are now primarily superceded by plastic items, often electronic.Metal balance table scales and a set of imperial weightsOn weights "AVERY/ B'HAM"weights and measures australia, domestic scales

Sets of scales similar to these were very common in households throughout Australia. Between 1960 and 1988 Australia gradually adopted the SI units (Standard International) or metric units. In 1970 the Australian parliament passed the metric conversion act, and the Australian building trades made it the standard in 1974. This information helps to date the set of weights to before the1970s.Domestic scales such as these were common throughout Australian homes. They are now primarily superceded by plastic items, often electronic. Metal table scales with imperial weights weights and measures australia, table scales, domestic appliances

Patterned hard cover, black binding on spine.Written across top of first page: South Frederick the Great GM Coy N.L. Inside pages a double spread recording the 'Gold Purchased by Bank; weight advanced upon, amount of advance, weight after melting, mint and bank charges, eq standard weight, value and balance of assay. Dates from August 1934 to December 193k7. Inserted in pages of gold book: a. receipts " Commercial Banking Company of Sydney (Bendigo) recording the particulars of gold melted and assayed on account of South Frederick the Great Co. N.L. and slips from Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch, showing out turn of deposits left for coinage. Weight before and after melting, assay reports of gold and assay report of silver and standard gold oz., total value assessed. b. Letter May 13th, 1935 from Herbert L. Archbold, enclosing cheque for 9/5/- for described weight: 11 tons, 18 cwt, 3 q. bendigo, margaret roberts, south frederick the great gold mining co. n.l., sebastian, mccoll, rankin and stanistreet