Large old scale

My son keeps telling people I'm an antique expert. Ha. If he only knew I'm relying on you guys to help! One of our customers asked him about help with some items. Any info on this old scale, like what might it have been used for? Plate to hold things being weighed is ceramic. The woman thinks there's a piece missing. She's had it for decades. Does anyone know if it's complete? If not, what is missing? She always had it in her house with a plant on it.

 

Lots of information about REUBEN SUTCLIFFE of Manchester on the internet. (I suggest you use the British search engine www.google.co.uk.) You should be able to find out what you need to know. Firm established in 1895 to help you with date range.

 

Look at these beam scales:

Ruben Sutcliffe

Looks like there should be a tray for that eccentric arm, but maybe hanging dead weights were an option.

 

That big, brass ball in the box is the hanging weight. Not sure if there were more of different sizes. I did wrap the ceramic tray in bubble wrap for her. She had it in the bottom of the box underneath the metal bits!
Any idea of current value in the real world?

 

I know this is an old thread but I am a collector of Reuben Sutcliffe material. He was my great-great Grandfather. I have a smaller scale similar to what you show and also a ceramic plate. They don't appear to be related.