This ornate, Victorian-era automatic weighing machine was made in England around 1884-1909, by George Salter and Co. of West Bromwich, UK, makers of scales since 1760. It is protected by Queen Victoria’s Royal Letters Patent, signed in 1900. The scale stood outside the Warrnambool Post Office in Timor Street from around 1909 to 1966, as shown on postcards and photographs held at the State Library of Victoria. The scale is identified by the Serial Number '665', and was installed by the distributors, the Australasian Automatic Weighing Machine Co. Ltd.. The scale’s weight measurements were in Imperial stones and pounds up to 20 stone (127 kg). The scale’s face included charts of average weights, for men, women, boys and girls, by various heights, in feet and inches. The coin slot and its face were converted to metric measurements by the Eastern Scale Company Pty. Ltd; that firm was registered on October 2, 1974. The Australasian Automatic Weighing Machine Co. Ltd was a large supplier of weighing scales in Australia and held the Royal Letters patent for their machines, distributing them in prominent locations. In 1902, the firm was listed under the Import Entries Passed at His Majesty’s Customs, importing into Sydney, NSW, eight cases of scales. In 1911, the company asked permission from the Port Pirie Corporation to install a machine in Alexander Street. In 1913, the company applied to the City of Sydney to install machines around the city, including at the tram depot. One application mentions “… three machines in three places for three pounds per year”. In 1923, the firm tendered for the right to place Automatic Weighing Machines on railway and tram premises throughout New South Wales, subsequently for five-year terms, in return for a fixed payment per machine and a portion of the revenue to the NSW Government. In 1928, the Sydney Harbour Trust gave the firm the right to place the weighing machines on various ferry jetties. The firm was still operating in 1941, advertising for two boys aged 14-16 for the workshop and messages, at the Rialto building, 497 Collins St., Melbourne. On December 21, 1946, the Commonwealth government invited offers to tender for the right to place automatic weighing machines on postal premises throughout the six states; the successful company then made arrangements with the federal Postmaster General's Department to place machines outside post offices across the country. A few years later, on September 11, 1950, the firm's Adelaide branch ceased trading. From 11th July 1950, the Australian and Eastern Engineering Company Pty. Ltd took over at the same premises, at 179 Pirie Street, Adelaide. The Perth branch ceased business in WA on July 6th, 1950. Percival Everitt invented and patented the automatic, coin-operated personal scale design. Everitt was a Norfolk-born engineer and regarded as the father of the coin-operated industry. As a young man in 1877, he invented a hay and corn pitcher, a turnip thinner in 1878 and an Automatic Travelling Anchor in 1880. But his fame came in 1883 with the first postcard-vending machine, over a hundred of which he distributed around London. In 1884, he patented one of his many inventions, the coin-operated scales for use in public places; for many people, it was their first exposure to coin-operated machines. His success prompted the formation of the Weighing Machine Company in 1885. Further inventions followed: a blow tester in 1887, the machine for testing a person's grip in 1888, and in 1889, the dispensing machine for hiring out opera glasses, and a device for shutting down the coin entry slot if the machine was empty. In 1890, he invented a fortune-telling machine. Everitt sadly did not make his fortune; he died suddenly in February 1893, in his late forties, with £71 to his name. George Salter & Co., West Bromwich, England, produced automatic weighing scale machines from Everitt’s patented design, and advertised them as suitable for hotels, pleasure gardens, theatres, exhibition halls, clubs, baths and places of public resort. The company was established in 1760 by brothers Richard and William Salter, and manufactured springs and pocket steelyards (spring balances). After several generations, the company was taken over in 1855 by a nephew, George, and renamed George Salter & Co. In 1884, Salter registered the trademark of a Staffordshire knot pierced by an arrow. The company's expanded range of products included the first coin-operated public weighing machines in the 1880s and, in 1895, the first English-made typewriter. In 1915, Salter became a limited company, Geo. Salter & Co. Ltd. When the last George Salter died in 1917, the company passed into the hands of other relatives, but continued to grow before being bought out by Staveley Industries in 1973. Despite several subsequent mergers, the Salter name continues to be seen on household products such as digital scales. This patented, coin-operated weight machine is significant for its association with Percival Everitt, the inventor of the world’s first slot machine, with the renowned maker of scales, G. Salter & Co., which began operating in 1760, and also with the Australasian Automatic Weighing Scale Co., which imported and widely distributed the scales throughout Australia from the early-to-mid 20th century. It is a rare example of an early vending machine used in public places from the late 19th through to the mid-20th century. These machines were the early step in the evolution of coin-in-the-slot machines, which are still used today. The scales give a glimpse into our history; they became quickly popular with the public, which, until then, had little access to weight scales apart from those at medical services. They also provided inexpensive entertainment for families, especially while waiting for trains or visiting the post office. The machines were also attractive and lucrative to the distributors; once installed, they required very little maintenance, and their low cost to customers kept the money coming in. This automatic weighing machine is also significant for its decades of service to the local and regional community of Warrnambool, for personal and commercial purposes. A public coin-operated weighing scale, also called a penny scale. It is a large, silver-painted cast metal stand with a square top on a pedestal that flares outwards to join a rectangular platform base with posts on the side and corners that may have had fitted wheels. The round, white face on top has red and black measurements and inscriptions. A slim indicator with a point at one end and an arc at the other is attached to the face’s centre. The coin slot is above the face, on the left, and the scale’s identification number is engraved on an oval plate on the right. Moulded motifs decorate the pedestal’s front and are repeated on its sides; they depict a tall, narrow urn with a bowl on top and fancy scrolls on either side. There is a decorative panel across the front top of the stand. The top of the pedestal has a small keyhole. The size of the coin slot fitted a penny coin, and the weight measurements on the face were in Imperial stones and pounds. Quite some time after 1966, when Australia introduced new decimal weights, measurements and currency, the scale was updated; the coin slot size was changed, and a new face with metric measurements was installed. The scale now accepts a $1 coin (one dollar) and the scale measures weight in kilograms and grams, from 0 to 125 kg.. The rear of the scale has a small, rectangular metal plate with printed text. The scale was made by G Salter & Co. of West Bromwich, UK, distributed by the Australasian Automatic Weighing Platform Co., and updated to metric measurements by Eastern Scale Co. Pty Ltd. It was previously installed at the Warrnambool Post Office. Engraved on an oval plate on the right: "665" Top centre of the face, in red: "$1 coin" Top of face: "EASTERN SCALE CO. PTY LTD" Base of face, in red: "[Royal Coat of Arms of Britain]" with words, below in red: "BY ROYAL LETTERS PATENT" Around the face, in black: "[numbers 0 to 125, in increments 5, and makes between the numbers for each 500g]" "kg" Below the face, moulded letters within a shield: "AUSTRALASIAN AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINES CO. LTD." At the back of the weighing platform: "G SALTER & CO. / WEST BROMWICH", remnants of logo “[Staffordshire knot pierced by an arrow]” Plate on rear: THIS SCALE REMAINS THE PROPERTY OF EASTERN SCALE CO. PTY. LTD., 8 GEORGE COURT, GREENSBOROUGH, VIC, 3088. PHONE (03 ) _ 34 _ _ 33” (434 9333 ?_flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, scale, weighing scale, salter, australasian, 1 dollar, $1 coin, 1p, 1 penny coin, penny scale, coin in slot scale, eastern scale co. pty. ltd., british royal coat of arms, royal letters patent, letters patent, health, ending machine, coin-operated machine, percival everett, weighing machine co., george salter & co., g salter & co, west bromwich, vending machine, weights & balances, measurements, slot machine, coin operated machine, penny-in-the-slot, coin fed, coin op scale, weights & measures, australasian automatic weighing machine co. ltd., warrnambool post office, machine 665, no. 665, blalnce technology, scales and weights, weights and measures, penny weight scales, vintage, weighing machine, coin in the slot, coin operated, public scale, public weighing machine, penny-weighing machines, penny weighing machines, penny scales, coin operated weighing machine, scale weighing machine

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

The subject item was made in England by W&T Avery a British manufacturer of weights and weighing machines. The company was founded in the early 18th century and took the name W & T Avery in 1818. The undocumented origin of the company goes back to 1730 when James Ford established the business in the town of Digbeth. On Joseph Balden, the then company’s owner’s death in 1813 William and Thomas Avery took over his scale making business and in 1818 renamed it W & T Avery. The business rapidly expanded and in 1885 they owned three factories: the Atlas Works in West Bromwich, the Mill Lane Works in Birmingham and the Moat Lane Works in Digbeth. In 1891 the business became a limited company with a board of directors and in 1894 the shares were quoted on the London Stock Exchange. In 1895 the company bought the legendary Soho Foundry in Smethwick, a former steam engine factory owned by James Watt & Co. In 1897 the move was complete and the steam engine business was gradually converted to pure manufacture of weighing machines. The turn of the century was marked by managing director William Hipkins who was determined to broaden the renown of the Avery brand and transform the business into specialist manufacture of weighing machines. By 1914 the company occupied an area of 32,000m² and had some 3000 employees. In the inter-war period, the growth continued with the addition of specialized shops for cast parts, enamel paints and weighbridge assembly and the product range diversified into counting machines, testing machines, automatic packing machines and petrol pumps. During the second world war, the company also produced various types of heavy guns. At that time the site underwent severe damage from parachute mines and incendiary bombs. Then from 1931 to 1973, the company occupied the 18th-century Middlesex Sessions House in Clerkenwell as its headquarters. Changes in weighing machine technology after World War II led to the closure of the foundry, the introduction of electronic weighing with the simultaneous gradual disappearance of purely mechanical devices. The continued expansion was partly achieved through a series of acquisitions of other companies. After almost a century of national and international expansion, the company was taken over by GEC in 1979. Keith Hodgkinson, managing director at the time, completed the turn-around from mechanical to electronic weighing with a complete overhaul of the product range of retail sales of industrial platform scales. In 1993 GEC took over the Dutch-based company Berkel and the Avery-Berkel name was introduced. In 2000 the business was in turn acquired by the US-American company Weigh-Tronix, who already owned Salter, and is today operating as Avery Weigh-Tronix.An item used by grocers and merchants throughout the then British colonies of England to weigh store-bought goods around the mid to late 19th century. This item gives an insight into the daily lives of early colonial settlers and is a significant part of the era’s social history of the time.Balance scale and weights with removable dish, two round weights glued to tray 4oz and 8oz. Scales 'to weigh up to 28lb. Printed in gold on black labels each side "W & T AVERY LTD", "BIRMINGHAM" warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, scale and weights, food preparation equipment, w t avery ltd, balance scale, grocers scales, james ford, william & thomas avery, birmingham uk

The Hughes’ Family Scale No. 48 is a spring balance scale. It uses the Imperial measurements of ounces and pounds. There are 16 ounces (OZ) in one pound (LB), and each pound equals approximately 454 grams in Metric measurements. Scales have been used to measure and compare items for value for centuries. A weight was placed on one side of a balance and the object was placed on the other. Adjustments were made to either the weight or the object until the balance was horizontal, which meant that each side was the same weight. The Salter family business began in 1760 with spring makers, Richard and William Salter. In the late 18th century, Richard Salter invented the spring scale, where the weight of an object on the tray of the scale causes pressure on a spring in the scale. The pressure caused by gravity was then measured to calculate the weight of an object. Spring scales are still used today along with the more recent and accurate digital scales. The company began manufacturing in West Bromwich, England, in 1770. The firm was taken over by William’s sons, John and George. In 1824, after the death of John, the firm became George Salter & Co. The company produced a wide variety of products, including Britain’s first bathroom scale and the first English typewriter. In 1884 the Salter Trademark of a Staffordshire knot pierced by an arrow was registered. After over 100 years of manufacturing, the company was bought out by Staveley Industries, which was bought by Weigh-Tronix, and then that company was bought by HoMedics Company in 2004.This scale was made by Salter, the company that invented the balance scale, the first British bathroom scale and the first English typewriter. The scale represents the domestic equipment used for measuring in food preparation over 100 years ago. Modern kitchen scales are still using the same principal, along with scales used in business and industry.Scale; a domestic spring balance scale for measuring weight from 0 to 20 pounds. The scale’s grey metal case has a round white dial on the front with black markings, an arrow indicator and a round shallow metal bowl on a pedestal at the top. The scale is raised on a rectangular metal base with outward-sloping sides. An adjustable screw is on the dome top. The scale is marked from 0 to 20 pounds, with each pound marked in 1-ounce increments. The scale is named the Hughes Family Scale No. 48 and was made in Britain by Salter.“HUGHES’ / FAMILY SCALE / No. 48” “BRITISH MADE” “TO WEIGH 20 LBS BY 1 OZ” “SALTER” above logo [knotted rope with an arrow through loops]flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, hughes, salter, british made, family scale, no. 48, spring balance, scale, weighing instrument, weights and measures, weighing machine, kitchen utensil, baking accessory, domestic equipment, cookware, bakeware, kitchen scale, kitchen accessory, food preparation, recipes, cooking, measuring

Thaddeus Fairbanks (1796 –1886) was an American inventor. of heating and cook stoves, cast iron ploughs, and other items. His greatest success was the invention and manufacture of the platform scale, which allowed the weighing of large objects accurately. Fairbanks was born in Brimfield, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1796, the son of Joseph Fairbanks (1763–1846) and Phebe (Paddock) Fairbanks (1760–1853). His uncle was Ephraim Paddock, the brother of Phebe Paddock. In 1815 he moved to St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and set up a wheelwright's shop above his father's gristmill. In 1820 he married Lucy Peck Barker and In 1824 he built an iron foundry. his brother Erastus joined him to establish E. and T. Fairbanks, a partnership to manufacture heating stoves, cast iron ploughs a design for which he patented in 1826. In 1830 Fairbanks and Erastus became interested in the raising and processing of hemp. Fairbanks went on to patent a hemp and flax dressing machine and became the manager of the St. Johnsbury Hemp Company. He also built a set of scales that would measure large loads of hemp accurately, as there were no reliable scales at the time. Upon the success of building these scales, his brothers recommended that he make and sell these for general use.  Fairbanks' most famous invention then became the platform scale for weighing heavy objects. These are commonly known as the Fairbanks Scales, for which he patented his original design in 1830.  Before this time, accurate weighing of objects required hanging them from a balancing beam as a result, particularly heavy or ungainly objects could not be weighed accurately. A platform scale, if large enough, could weigh an entire wagon. By placing a full wagon on the scale, unloading it, and then placing it on the scale when empty, it became possible to easily and accurately calculate the weight and value of farm produce and other loads. In 1834 Fairbanks and his brother formed "E. and T. Fairbanks and Company" to manufacture and sell these platform scales. These scales were well known in the United States and around the world resulting in the company doubling in volume every three years from 1842 to 1857. There was a temporary slow down during the American Civil War, however, the business took off again after the war. Their partnership was incorporated in 1874 into a firm known as "Fairbanks Scale Company". These platform scales revolutionized weighing methods of large loads and have been in use ever since. Portable platform scales are found in almost every hardware store, physician's office, and manufacturing factory throughout the United States and the world. The first railway track platform scale patent was granted to Fairbanks on January 13, 1857, as Patent No. 16,381. In 1916 the company was purchased by ”Fairbanks, Morse and Company”. Ownership of the company has since changed several times, but Fairbanks Scales continue to be made in St. Johnsbury Vermont to this day. Fairbanks had received 43 patents in his lifetime with the last one at the age of 91. He died on April 12, 1886, and is buried at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. An early example of the first type of platform scale that revolutionised the weighing of goods throughout the world made in the USA around the turn of the 19th century. Commercially built platform scale on wheels. Cast iron base supports iron weighing platform with wooden floor. At back, square hollow wooden post supports a hooded rod which bears the weight of the platform and which hooks onto a brass balancing arm, marked in pounds up to 50. There is a cylindrical sliding weight and on the end a loop for a metal weight holder. The holder is designed for three circular pieces of metal with a slit to the centre. The weights used are 50, 100 and 200 lbs.Embossed to base Fairbanks Patent No 11 1/2, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, platform scales

Perfect Cheese Company was founded in 1930 by newly-arrived Italian migrant Natale Paquale Italiano. The company specialised in traditional Italian-style cheese but also produced Greek, Cypriot and Maltese origin cheeses. The cheeses were sold in Australia and Italy with all products being matured and non-processed. The company remained in operation until the early 2000s.This weighing machine is significant as it represents the machinery used by an early cheese production company.Large metal machine with cast iron with a cast iron frame and a stainless steel rectangular bowl in a cradle. The round weighing scale at the top shows a weight scale up to 1100 pounds. A mesh stainless steel baffle strains the milk.Made in England Birmingham - AVERY SOLE AGENTSallansford, perfect cheese company, avery, cheese manufacturing, dairy industry

A Large Rare mid 19th Century Balance Scale (also called a Beam Scale) Made in England by W&T Avery 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 undocumented origin of the company goes back to 1730 when James Ford established the business in the town of Digbeth. On Joseph Balden the then company’s owner’s death in 1813 William and Thomas Avery took over his scale making business and in 1818 renamed it W & T Avery. The business rapidly expanded and in 1885 they owned three factories: the Atlas Works in West Bromwich, the Mill Lane Works in Birmingham and the Moat Lane Works in Digbeth. In 1891 the business became a limited company with a board of directors and in 1894 the shares were quoted on the London Stock Exchange. In 1895 the company bought the legendary Soho Foundry in Smethwick, a former steam engine factory owned by James Watt & Co. In 1897 the move was complete and the steam engine business was gradually converted to pure manufacture of weighing machines. The turn of the century was marked by managing director William Hipkins who was determined to broadening the renown of the Avery brand and transforming the business into a specialist manufacture of weighing machines. By 1914 the company occupied an area of 32,000m² and had some 3000 employees. In the inter-war period the growth continued with the addition of specialized shops for cast parts, enamel paints and weighbridge assembly and the product range diversified into counting machines, testing machines, automatic packing machines and petrol pumps. During the second world war the company also produced various types of heavy guns. At that time the site underwent severe damage from parachute mines and incendiary bombs.Then from 1931 to 1973 the company occupied the 18th-century Middlesex Sessions House in Clerkenwell as its headquarters. Changes in weighing machine technology after World War II led to the closure of the foundry, the introduction of electronic weighing with the simultaneous gradual disappearance of purely mechanical devices. The continued expansion was partly achieved through a series of acquisitions of other companies. After almost a century of national and international expansion the company was taken over by GEC in 1979. Keith Hodgkinson, managing director at the time, completed the turn-around from mechanical to electronic weighing with a complete overhaul of the product range of retail scales and industrial platform scales. In 1993 GEC took over the Dutch-based company Berkel and the Avery-Berkel name was introduced. In 2000 the business was in turn acquired by the US-American company Weigh-Tronix, who already owned Salter, and is today operating as Avery Weigh-Tronix. Item made and used possibly around the 1850s by Victorian colonial government to check weights of goods being sold by early shop keepers on the gold fields item is very rare.James McEwan & Co were the retailers of W & T Avery scales in Victoria from 1852. A very rare item used probably to check weights used by merchants during colonial times by government inspectors in Victoria. A similar example exist in a NSW museum, the item is believed to have been made before W & T Avery expansion to the Soho foundry in Birmingham in 1885 and after 1818.Beam balance scale suspended from a wooden tripod, with metal trays suspended by three chain lengths. embossed on the balance beam W T Avery, Birmingham,flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, scale, avery

In 1885 Julius Pitrat of Gallipolis, Ohio, patented the first computing scale. Six years later, Edward Canby and Orange Ozias of Dayton, Ohio, purchased Pitrat's patents and incorporated The Computing Scale Company as the world's first computing scale vendor. And four years after that, The Computing Scale Company introduced the first automatic computing scale In 1911. the Computing Scale Company merged with the International Time Recording Company and Tabulating Machine Company to form the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, a business that was renamed IBM in 1924. An early example of a hanging clock face scale patented in October 1897 and made by a company that pioneered the first computing scales used in retail businesses. This company went on to become incorporated with IBM that late became an international computer manufacturer.Scale, patented Oct 12, 1897. Measures in pounds and ounces, up to 10lb. Red indicator needle. Two adjustment screws. Ring on the top for mounting. Marked "The Computing Scale Co Dayton Ohio"Marked "The Computing Scale Co Dayton Ohio"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, scale, computing scale, computing scale company, weighing instrument

A weight made in England by W&T Avery a British manufacturer of weights and weighing machines. The company was founded in the early 18th century and took the name W & T Avery in 1818. The undocumented origin of the company goes back to 1730 when James Ford established the business in the town of Digbeth. On Joseph Balden, the then company’s owner’s death in 1813 William and Thomas Avery took over his scale making business and in 1818 renamed it W & T Avery. The business rapidly expanded and in 1885 they owned three factories: the Atlas Works in West Bromwich, the Mill Lane Works in Birmingham and the Moat Lane Works in Digbeth. In 1891 the business became a limited company with a board of directors and in 1894 the shares were quoted on the London Stock Exchange. In 1895 the company bought the legendary Soho Foundry in Smethwick, a former steam engine factory owned by James Watt & Co. In 1897 the move was complete and the steam engine business was gradually converted to pure manufacture of weighing machines. The turn of the century was marked by managing director William Hipkins who was determined to broadening the renown of the Avery brand and transforming the business into specialist manufacture of weighing machines. By 1914 the company occupied an area of 32,000m² and had some 3000 employees. In the inter-war period, the growth continued with the addition of specialized shops for cast parts, enamel paints and weighbridge assembly and the product range diversified into counting machines, testing machines, automatic packing machines and petrol pumps. During the second world war, the company also produced various types of heavy guns. At that time the site underwent severe damage from parachute mines and incendiary bombs. Then from 1931 to 1973, the company occupied the 18th-century Middlesex Sessions House in Clerkenwell as its headquarters. Changes in weighing machine technology after World War II led to the closure of the foundry, the introduction of electronic weighing with the simultaneous gradual disappearance of purely mechanical devices. The continued expansion was partly achieved through a series of acquisitions of other companies. After almost a century of national and international expansion, the company was taken over by GEC in 1979. Keith Hodgkinson, managing director at the time, completed the turn-around from mechanical to electronic weighing with a complete overhaul of the product range of retail sales of industrial platform scales. In 1993 GEC took over the Dutch-based company Berkel and the Avery-Berkel name was introduced. In 2000 the business was in turn acquired by the US-American company Weigh-Tronix, who already owned Salter, and is today operating as Avery Weigh-Tronix. An item used used by grocers and merchants to weigh store bought goods around the 1950s. This item gives an insight into social history of the time.Weights, metal, silver electroplated, 1 x 2lb, 2 x 4lb, 1 x 7lb. (4) all government stamped, made by Avery Ltd.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, weight, imperial weight, imperial standard weights and measures, imperial standard weight

A weight made in England by W&T Avery a British manufacturer of weights and weighing machines. The company was founded in the early 18th century and took the name W & T Avery in 1818. The undocumented origin of the company goes back to 1730 when James Ford established the business in the town of Digbeth. On Joseph Balden, the then company’s owner’s death in 1813 William and Thomas Avery took over his scale making business and in 1818 renamed it W & T Avery. The business rapidly expanded and in 1885 they owned three factories: the Atlas Works in West Bromwich, the Mill Lane Works in Birmingham and the Moat Lane Works in Digbeth. In 1891 the business became a limited company with a board of directors and in 1894 the shares were quoted on the London Stock Exchange. In 1895 the company bought the legendary Soho Foundry in Smethwick, a former steam engine factory owned by James Watt & Co. In 1897 the move was complete and the steam engine business was gradually converted to pure manufacture of weighing machines. The turn of the century was marked by managing director William Hipkins who was determined to broadening the renown of the Avery brand and transforming the business into specialist manufacture of weighing machines. By 1914 the company occupied an area of 32,000m² and had some 3000 employees. In the inter-war period, the growth continued with the addition of specialized shops for cast parts, enamel paints and weighbridge assembly and the product range diversified into counting machines, testing machines, automatic packing machines and petrol pumps. During the second world war, the company also produced various types of heavy guns. At that time the site underwent severe damage from parachute mines and incendiary bombs. Then from 1931 to 1973, the company occupied the 18th-century Middlesex Sessions House in Clerkenwell as its headquarters. Changes in weighing machine technology after World War II led to the closure of the foundry, the introduction of electronic weighing with the simultaneous gradual disappearance of purely mechanical devices. The continued expansion was partly achieved through a series of acquisitions of other companies. After almost a century of national and international expansion, the company was taken over by GEC in 1979. Keith Hodgkinson, managing director at the time, completed the turn-around from mechanical to electronic weighing with a complete overhaul of the product range of retail sales of industrial platform scales. In 1993 GEC took over the Dutch-based company Berkel and the Avery-Berkel name was introduced. In 2000 the business was in turn acquired by the US-American company Weigh-Tronix, who already owned Salter, and is today operating as Avery Weigh-Tronix. An item used used by grocers and merchants to weigh store bought goods around the 1950s. This item gives an insight into social history of the time.Weight, brass, Stamped F27, 2lb.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, weight, brass weight

Thaddeus Fairbanks (1796 –1886) was an American inventor. of heating and cook stoves, cast iron ploughs, and other items. His greatest success was the invention and manufacture of the platform scale, which allowed the weighing of large objects accurately. Fairbanks was born in Brimfield, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1796, the son of Joseph Fairbanks (1763–1846) and Phebe (Paddock) Fairbanks (1760–1853). His uncle was Ephraim Paddock, the brother of Phebe Paddock. In 1815 he moved to St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and set up a wheelwright's shop above his father's gristmill. In 1820 he married Lucy Peck Barker and In 1824 he built an iron foundry. his brother Erastus joined him to establish E. and T. Fairbanks, a partnership to manufacture heating stoves, cast iron ploughs a design for which he patented in 1826. In 1830 Fairbanks and Erastus became interested in the raising and processing of hemp. Fairbanks went on to patent a hemp and flax dressing machine and became the manager of the St. Johnsbury Hemp Company. He also built a set of scales that would measure large loads of hemp accurately, as there were no reliable scales at the time. Upon the success of building these scales, his brothers recommended that he make and sell these for general use.  Fairbanks' most famous invention then became the platform scale for weighing heavy objects. These are commonly known as the Fairbanks Scales, for which he patented his original design in 1830.  Before this time, accurate weighing of objects required hanging them from a balancing beam as a result, particularly heavy or ungainly objects could not be weighed accurately. A platform scale, if large enough, could weigh an entire wagon. By placing a full wagon on the scale, unloading it, and then placing it on the scale when empty, it became possible to easily and accurately calculate the weight and value of farm produce and other loads. In 1834 Fairbanks and his brother formed "E. and T. Fairbanks and Company" to manufacture and sell these platform scales. These scales were well known in the United States and around the world resulting in the company doubling in volume every three years from 1842 to 1857. There was a temporary slow down during the American Civil War, however, the business took off again after the war. Their partnership was incorporated in 1874 into a firm known as "Fairbanks Scale Company". These platform scales revolutionized weighing methods of large loads and have been in use ever since. Portable platform scales are found in almost every hardware store, physician's office, and manufacturing factory throughout the United States and the world. The first railway track platform scale patent was granted to Fairbanks on January 13, 1857, as Patent No. 16,381. In 1916 the company was purchased by ”Fairbanks, Morse and Company”. Ownership of the company has since changed several times, but Fairbanks Scales continue to be made in St. Johnsbury Vermont to this day. Fairbanks had received 43 patents in his lifetime with the last one at the age of 91. He died on April 12, 1886, and is buried at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. An early example circa 1900 of the first type of platform scales used in a grocery store. This design for accurately measuring goods that were sold over the counter revolutionised the weighing of goods throughout the world. Platform scale metal black with removable tray & pan. Has horizontal brass arm with a brass slide weight black removable weight hook and 2 x 2 lb. weights. Fairbanksflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Averys Ltd was the holding company for the 32 operating companies in the Avery Group. The Group's main activity was the design, manufacture, sale and servicing of a wide range of weighing machines, physical testing machines and fluid measuring equipment. The company's history can be traced back to 1730, with the manufacturing by hand of steelyards and beam scales in a small workshop in Birmingham. When legislation was introduced at the turn of the century requiring the stamping of all weighing machines used for trade Avery branches were set up in some 100 towns in the United Kingdom. This was the beginning of the sales and service organisation that expanded to cover not only every important town in the United Kingdom but was also established in many overseas countries. Historic - Railway Platform Scales Avery Platform Scales - Iron and glassavery scales, puffing billy, platform scales, scales

These are sales photographs for William Tatham Ltd. of Rochdale. These photographs are taken in the fitting shop at William Tatham Ltd. where final assembly would have taken place. An Automatic Feeding Machine automatically and sequentially supplies uncarded wool to carding machines, The photographed machine was made by William Tatham Ltd, a textile engineering company based in Rochdale, UK. Established in 1866 Tatham developed innovative textile machinery and send their products to Australia and other countries around the world.A black and white photo of a Patent Automatic Feed Machine in a portrait format. Black wiritng on the rear, typed with a typewriter.Front - mid left corner - Wm. TATHAM Ltd. ROCHDALE. Machine Maker Front bottom right corner - 1129 Rear - Patent Automatic Feed with Extended Hopper fitted with balanced pressure plate which operates through Variable Speed Device to regulate speed of spiked lattice in accordance with material in Hopper. Electro-Magnetic Clutch Drive to spiked lattice controlled by Mercery Switch on scale arm. Diagonal Scale Pan with improved knife edge suspension. Dual Trap Doors over Pan actuated by Solenoid. Automatic device to slow spiked lattice just prior to weigh being obtained. Ball or roller bearings to main shaft, combs and other parts. Self-aligning bearing to timing shaft etc.textile machinery, tatham, wool manufacture, carding, automatic feeding machine, wool

A vintage weighing machine used by merchants or grocers or in kitchens for food sale or preparation. It came from the home of Mr Thomas Gaudion and was used in the 1920's.An antique blue and white speckled cast iron and metal balance scale and weights for weighing food. On one side is a dish shaped oval tray sitting on a claw frame for holding food items and opposite is a smaller plate for holding the steel weights: 4lb, 2lb, 2x 1lb, 8oz, 4oz and 1oz. There are seven in total.'....Ters' with an indecipherable ....'Watters Sydney'kitchen equipment, kitchenware, cooking, scales

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

Founded in the early 18th century, the company was renamed W & T Avery in 1818. In 1979, GEC took over the company and renamed it GEC-Avery. In 2000, the US-American company Weigh-Tronix acquired the business and it is now known as Avery Weigh-Tronix. BELONGED TO JOHN PATIENCE OF CLUNES, FORMERLY IN HIS CHEMIST SHOP FOR DAILY USEWOODEN BOX WITH DRAWER AND THREADED HOLE IN LID TO ACCOMODATE THE CENTRAL POLE OF THE SCALE ASSEMBLY. BOX CONTAINS SCALES ASSSEMBLY AND WEIGHTS .1 WOODEN BOX .2 DRAWER TO FIT BOX .3 .4 PIECES OF WOOD FINISHED ON ONE SIDE WITH BLUE FELT - ORIGINALLY AFFIXED TO THE DRAWER TO CREATE A SMALL COMPARTMENT WITHIN THE DRAWER .5 WOODEN CYLINDER WITH LID CONTAINS A SET OF METAL PENNYWEIGHTS RANGING FROM ONE TO SIX, W & T A STAMPED ON THE REVERSE OF EACH WEIGHT, ONE SINGLE WEIGHT 2OZ AND ONE SINGLE WEIGHT 1/2 OZ STAMPED ON REVERSE, THREE OTHER LIKE WEIGHTS WITH NO STAMPING. FOUR SQUARE BRASS SCRUPLES WITH "6" STAMPED INTO EACH. .6 ONE SET OF SIX BRASS TROY WEIGHTS NESTED .7 METAL ASSEMBLY PIN FOR THE SCALES .8 SCALE ASSEMBLY OF UPRIGHT POLE, BALANCE BAR, TWO METAL DISHES WITH METAL CHAIN ATTACHED .9 TWO UNSTAMPED METAL CIRCULAR WEIGHTS .2 YELLOW LABEL AFFIXED TO THE BACK OF THE DRAWER: w & T AVERY, LATE T BEACHMANUFACTURERS OF ALL KINDS OF SCALES, SCALE BEAMS ,STEELYARDS ,PATENT WEIGHING, MACHINES, SCREW PLATES, DIE STOCKS, SCALE DIGBETH BIRMINGHAM .5 STAMPED ON REVERSE OF PENNYWEIGHTS: "STANDARD" WITH A CROWN IMAGE AND W & T A - FADING LABEL WITH F C DEIG PRINTED OTHER INFORMATION ILLEGIBLE .8 DISHES STAMPED WITH: ROYAL BY HIS MAJESTIES LETTERS PATENT weighing instrument, apothecary scales, gold scales

There were at least three 1880s vessels named Lady Loch, all built in Victoria; a river launch (ca 1884 to ca 1916, originally named Lady of the Lake), a steamer ferry (1884 to 1920s), and a government lighthouse tender steamer HMV Lady Loch (1886 to 1962). The spring balance scale was part of the equipment on the HMV Lady Loch. The scale was made by the renowned company Salter Weighing Machines in the United Kingdom, to Silvester's patent design. Salter Weighing Machines, Britain, began making spring scales in the 1820s. In 1908 Salter opened up an Australian branch named Salter Scales Pty. Ltd. The scale is marked HMV SS Lady Loch. It would be suspended by its top ring, a basket or other container is hung from the hook, and the items inside the basket are then pulled downwards on the hook, which stretches the springs inside the works. The pulling action moves a rack and gears a calculated distance and the gears turn the pointer on the dial to indicate the weight of the goods. This scale measures up to 200 pounds capacity. The HMV SS Lady Loch was an iron steamship built in Footscray, Melbourne, by Campbell, Sloss and McCain in 1886 for the colonial Victorian government’s Department of Trade and Customs. It was armed with a 6-inch gun and two 1-inch Nordenfelt guns. The Sydney Morning Herald of 27th January 1888 describes the vessel in detail. It even comments on the interior of the Saloon “The wood work … is on a very elaborate scale and is exceedingly neat …”. The HMV Lady Loch performed Customs duties and serviced the lighthouses along the coast. The scale could have measured goods for the Customs Tax, or for measuring out supplies for the lighthouse keepers. The vessel was named after Lady Elizabeth Loch, wife of Sir Henry Loch, Governor of Victoria from 1884 to 1889. In 1932 Lady Loch was converted to a hulk and used in Brisbane, and finally scuttled in 1962 at Moreton Bay, Queensland.The scale has importance due to its connection to the 1886 HMV Lady Loch, a vessel of great significance to Melbourne’s shipbuilding industry. It was the largest auxiliary vessel in the Victorian Colonial Government’s fleet and the first prominent vessel launched by Melbourne’s shipbuilding industry. The scale is also important for its connection with the colonial navy's Custom's work, as the scale was available to weigh goods that could attract taxes and deal out goods for distribution to lighthouse keepers. The HMV Lady Loch was also important part of Victoria's maritime history for its communication and support of the lighthouse keeper's along the coast of Victoria.Scale; Salter's spring balance mechanical hanging scale, brass and iron. Equally spaced marks around the circular dial have values from 0 to 200 in increments of 10, each increment is also divided into 10. An iron ring is attached to a fitted loop on the top of the scale, and an iron hook is attached to the fitted loop onthe bottom of the scale. A moving pointer attached to the centre of the dial has a calibration screw joined to its base. Four screws fix the brass face to the works at the back. There are stamped and embossed inscriptions. Made by Salter in Britain, to Silvester's Patent design. The scale was once equipment carried abourd the steamship HMV SS Lady Loch. Stamped: "SALTER'S / SPRING BALANCE" "SILVESTOR'S / PATENT" Embossed in script: "HMV SS / Lady Loch"warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, scale, salter, spring balance, silvester's patent, lady loch, steamship, hmv, colonial navy, victoria, lady elizabeth loch, custom's vessel, lighthouse tender, 1886, government vessel, victorian government, measuring instrument, weight, weighing instrument, mechanical scale, hanging scale, hmv lady loch, weights and measures, silvestor's patent, george salter & co.

C.19th weighing machine and scoop used in kitchens for food preparation. An antique footed ornate black cast metal Salter brand kitchen scale from the Victorian era. This item is rare.The cream coloured metal face is quite decorative with Household Scale No 49, British Made To weigh 0 - 20 lbs. It has an adjustment winder on the back to set the scales to 0. The top of the scale has a metal claw shape to support the black metal dish which the food is placed on to weigh. There is also a metal measuring scoop with a short handle which was originally green. Household Scale No 49, British Made, To weigh 0 - 20 lbs. A knotted rope design and Salter is printed at the bottom of the face.kitchen equipment, kitchenware, cooking, scales, scoops

Avery metal manual scales with measurement in grams - with adjustable chrome feet. Accompanied by an array of weights of varying brands (Mercury, MSC, unmarked) 2 x 7LB, 3 x 4LB, 1 x 3LB, 1 x 2LB, 3 x 1LB, 8OZ and 4OZ.AVERY FOR TRADE VICTORIAN PATTERN APPROVAL No. V8 To Weigh Chart MARKED BY 2 GRAM DIVISIONS MADE IN ENGLAND BY W&T AVERY LTD BIRMINGHAM No 1215 BFH/S - 680767scales, measurement, weighing, weights, artifact