Counter Scale

These small counter scales were made by Herbert and Sons, King's Cross. The brass trays tell us that the scales were used to weigh dry goods (cheese, meat, butter and so on were usually weighed on larger ceramic trays that could more easily be cleaned). The weights shown are in ounces (oz) and the shopkeeper could weigh anything from half an ounce to 14oz (1 lb) in weight. 

 

Ounces and pounds - or imperial weights - are used right up to the present day though recent laws have attempted to make the metric system (grams and kilos) more acceptable. In the 19th century (and almost all of the 20th) British shoppers only used ounces and pounds to weigh the food they bought. 


 
Counter Scale

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Picture of Counter Scale
Image of Counter Scale