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Busselton Historical Society > Records

Salter Spring Balance Scales

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George Salter & Co

c. 1920

Subcollections

Weights & Balances

Overview

Brass Salter spring balance scale that can weigh up to 25 pounds. The body is made of brass with three rivets holding the front measurement panel which covers the spring. There is an iron ring at the top so the balance can be suspended from a hook. At the bottom is an iron hook from which a brass plate is suspended by 3 iron chains, which may not be a part of the original scale.

Historical information

In the late 1760s a spring maker called Richard Salter started making the first spring balance scales in England in the village of Bilston, England. He called these scales "pocket steelyards", although they work on a different principle from steelyard balances. The company became known as George Salter & Co when his nephew George took over in 1825. After this a manufacturing site was established in the town of West Bromwich, about 4 miles from Bilston. The West Bromwich works produced a wide variety of scales including the UK's first bathroom scales and the range was later extended to include irons, mincers, potato chippers, coin-operated machines and the first typewriters made in the UK.

Salters thrived as a family owned company throughout the 1900s, and by 1950 it employed over 2000 people at West Bromwich. The West Bromwich Albion football club was formed from the workers from these works.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2024.190

Item type

Themes

Material

Width

20 cm

Depth

60 cm

Inscriptions and markings

On the brass face is the Salter logo is engraved

Under the logo the following is engraved

NO 2
CLASS II
SALTERS IMPROVED
SPRING BALANCE
TO WEIGH 25lb

PATENT

Keywords

Spring Balance Scale

Place made

West Bromwich
Staffordshire
United Kingdom

Year

Related Objects

Related Objects

Parent records

ROOM 1.18 The Dairy Room

Busselton Historical Society

Busselton Historical Society

Organisation Details
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Salter Spring Balance Scales

Salter Spring Balance Scales

Salter Spring Balance Scales

Salter Spring Balance Scales

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