Bidspirit auction | Vintage The American Scale Portable

Vintage The American Scale Portable Balance Scale Set for Old Gold Exchange of Penna. - This is a vintage portable equal-arm balance scale set manufactured by The American Scale for use at the Old Gold Exchange of Penna. in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The set is housed in a wooden box with finger-jointed corners and a simple metal clasp. The interior of the lid features printed Troy weight conversion tables and indicates the scale was approved in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. A central metal nut is mounted in the lid to receive the threaded vertical support pillar for assembly. The components include a metal beam with a central vertical pointer, two circular metal pans suspended by three chains each, a dark gray rectangular touchstone for gold purity testing, and a thin metal rod. The exterior of the box bears a gold-toned serrated paper seal from the City of Allentown Weights and Measures Department, signed by inspector James E. McHugh. A stained and torn paper label inside the lid identifies the business location as 9 1/2 No. 6th St., Allentown, Pa., and includes two handwritten reference numbers. Scale Height (assembled): Approximately 7 inches Box Length: 7.75 inches Box Width: 3.75 inches Box Height: 1.75 inches. The metal components exhibit significant surface oxidation and rust throughout, most notably on the beam and chains. The pans are tarnished with surface pitting. The wooden box shows surface wear, including scratches, dings, and staining. The interior paper label is torn and discolored, and the exterior inspector seal shows edge wear and fading. The set is missing its original balance weights. Mechanical movement is functional but stiff due to oxidation.