The book was compiled for the proprietor, L Oertling (Ludwig Oertling), who established his firm of precision scientific instruments in 1849 and went on to become well-known in Britain for its manufacture of precision instruments, particularly its balance scales. In 1865 Ludwig Oertling and business partner Edward Wilds Laad at 27 Moorgate Street London were granted Patent 75 for the invention of improvements in hydrometers. The firm was situated at Turnmill Street, London, in 1922, when it advertised its products including hydrometers, petroleumeters, saccharometers, balances and weights, and automatic coin weighing machines in the British Industries Fair catalogue. In 1925 the firm became part of the Avery group of companies, which acquired Stanton Instruments in 1968 and about two years later Stantons merged into L. Oertling Ltd. Joseph Long has been mentioned by some sources as the author of this book, written for the proprietor of L. Oertling Ltd.The book has been recognised as being culturally important as a basis for our current civilization. It was of great importance to the Board of Revenue for the collectors of taxes and duties Customs Offices, and used in the calculation of alcohol levels in wine and spirits.Reference book, hardcover, burgundy with gold text and lines. Cloth cover with embossed design. Title: Tables for Ascertaining The Strength of Spirits for ascertaining the strengths of spirits with Sike's Hydrometer; Compiled for L. Oetlihg, by appointment, sole manufacturer of Hydrometers & Saccharometers to the Board of Inland Revenue. [some sources say the author is Joseph Long] Published in Turnmill Street, London, near Farringdon Street Station Printer: Printed in London, England by George Berridge and Co, Eastcheap Works, ECflagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, l. oertling, ludwig oertling., precision balances, edward wilds ladd, patent 75, improvements in hydrometers, hydrometer, automatic balance for weighing sovereigns, hydrometers, petroleometers, saccharometers, balances and weights, automatic coin-weighing machines, avery group, stanton instruments, l. oertling ltd, testing machine, tables for hydrometers, strength of spirits, alcohol content, alcohol measurement, board of revenue, joseph long

This balance was used at the Ballarat School of Mines. A two-pan beam balance, mounted on a wood base board. Housed in a timber-framed glass-sided cabinet. Aluminium pans. No balance weights. 25.5 beam length.33439 on back of beam support. Small plate on top of door: Townen and Mercer, Sydenybalance, scientific instrument, oertling

The Oertling beam balance scale was used in the Bendigo School of Mines assay laboratory. The manufacturer, Ludwig Oertling (1818-1893), was born near Hamburg and gained his apprenticeship in instrument-making with his brother Johann. He immigrated to London in 1840, where he joined instrument-maker and assayer George Makins (1815-1893). Oertling collaborated with Makins and built his first balance, which was "a twin-column assay type with a light lattice beam". By 1851, the year of the Great International Exhibition of the Works of All Nations, Oertling had established his own instrument-making business, employed five instrument-makers and by 1861, ten staff were engaged in designing and making instruments, principally analytical balances. Oertling's first twin-column beam balance was the prototype for all Oertling assay balances that were produced during the next century and exported to the British colonies: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and India, to Europe and America." Reference: Powerhouse Collection - https://collection.powerhouse.com.au/object/550913 Brass beam balance made by Oertling, London in 1898. The scale is mounted on a wooden base board with a mahogany case, glass on four sides with two drawers underneath. On bottom of the left hand drawer, written in pencil, is the works number '21736'. A cursive 'L' on the same drawer bottom indicates 'left'.   Also on bottom corner 'J.W. 28.2.98'.  'J.W' was John Wright, foreman and cabinet maker. He was Oertling’s longest working cabinet maker from1886-1928. In pencil underneath the right corner of the left drawer is '3/98'. Written in pencil inside the drawer cavity is 'E.C' in fancy script. This refers to 'Charlie Craig, employed as an instrument maker by the Oertling Company. The maker's name, "Oertling' is embossed on the base of the scale. There is a brass knob that fits in the front to make adjustments to the scales and also on either side of the exterior case to set the top of the scales. 21736, J.W. 28.2.98, E.C., 3/98mining, equipment, scales, ludwig oertling, beam balance, assay, bendigo school of mines and industry