Featured Mahogany antique weight and height scales c1831-1860

I have owned these lovely scales for 2 years now, when I got them they were in need of restoration, the brass and wood had seen better days.
After a quick French polish and a huge time with Brasso they came up a treat.
These scales are very rare being so early and having most of the original weights, made in Edinburgh, Scotland from 1831-1910.
When friends and family come over they always want to have a go, it must be the novelty of using the weights to weigh yourself or I wonder if it's because they weigh every less than they really are?

 

These are the only other set I can find from the same company, but I would say these are later .......http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/objects/display?id=92526

 

Nice job, raver.
By the way, are you in Norfolk?

 

No not Norfolk, East Kent, but I know why you think Norfolk, the flint walls in my garden?

 

Yes, very nice.

 

...this is Silverthwaite researching the construction of flint walls...

 

I noticed the wall also.......it's fascinating.

I also have stone walls, but they are made of the typical large stones. Posting picture.

The wall certainly does fit into your love of tiny intricate things.

I can't imagine how long it took to construct.

P.S. Love the scale too!

 

The wall is signed by the makers TB and EM halfway down, it's about 90ft long and 10ft in it's highest point built in 1874

 

The wall wasn't meant to be the focal point

 

Perhaps not, but it's unlike any other I have ever seen.

The perfect backdrop for your wonderful scale.

 

I know, I take full responsibility. (Or was it fool responsibility)

 

If u sell it let me know, I'd love to weigh my cannonballs in stone units!

 

Agree! And for most antiques for that matter, it is beautiful.
Sorry, doing it again, focus on scales, focus on scales. (Hitting that wall)

 

And to only compound "the error of your ways", I must comment that you and I seem to have the same inherit condition...................OH, LOOK! A Squirrel!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back to reality - the scales are wonderful............much envy on this part..........flint wall? WHAT flint wall??????????

 

Is that a serious offer or are you joking? Surely you could just covert their weight into Kg.... I'm missing something aren't I?

 

Lol

 

Raver - you will have to get used to this. Most of us do it all the time. And not just here. Lord and Lady Grantham use MY crystal, Gene Tierney and her sea captain use Real Old Willow, and, what is in the frame behind that box you are showing us? Etc!

Besides which, a number of people have a certain affinity for walls. I, for instance can tell when I have driven into a different state by the style and fabric of the walls; in England, I guess it's counties.

 

The SCALES are absolutely LOVELY!!!! You did a nice job on them!!! And to have all the weights is a real PLUS!!!! ME, I'd never heard of a Flint wall before, so, because of that, secondarily, it IS intriguing!!!!! I cannot fathom anyone using such small stones to build a wall, especially one of the size that you have mentioned!!!!

 

This is how it started:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/grimes-graves-prehistoric-flint-mine/
And this is what it led to, underneath the city of Norwich are mine shafts from thousands of years of flint mining, sometimes things go wrong: