Glossary C – D

*terms marked with an asterisk appear in this glossary

CHAIN BALANCE — a scale having a weight in the form of a loop of chain hanging at one end from the scale beam, and at the other end from a drum. Rotation of the graduated drum adjusts the length of chain suspended, thereby adjusting the balance. The chain eliminates the use of minute weights and provides quick adjustment, Fig. 12. A graduated vertical slide was sometimes used instead of the drum. 

CHART — a graduated surface used in conjunction with a pointer* or indicator.* It may be circular (dial), a segment of a circle (fan*), cylindrical, or a segment of a cylinder.
See also QUADRANT.

CHART-BEAM^† — a beam employed on price computing scales with sliding poise and a flat or cylindrical chart. When the poise balances the beam, an indicator (such as a pointer) shows the value on the chart.

CHECK — see STAY.

CHEEKS — see SHEARS.

CHEMICAL BALANCE — see PRECISION BALANCE.

CHONDROMETER — see GRAIN SCALE.

CLASS A, B, C. — British Board of Trade classification for scales used for trade purposes, according to their sensitivity, from 1st October 1907 onwards. CLASS 1, 2, 3. was used from 1893 to 1907. A similar system was used in the USA. 

CLOTH SCALE — see YARN BALANCE.

COCK — see POINTER.

COCKING SCALES, COCKING WEIGHTS — scales and weights used for weighing cocks when matching protagonists in cockfighting, in the 18th and 19th century. 

COIN FREED SCALE — a person scale that is freed for operation by inserting a coin in a slot. Also called COIN OPERATED or MONEY OPERATED SCALES.

COLLAR — a raised band or ring around a scale beam or pointer, used for decoration, Fig. 13. 

COLUMN — a vertical rod, or pillar, used to support a scale, Fig 7 (Glossary A–B). 

COMMODITY PLATTER — see GOODS PLATE. 

COMPOUND LEVER SCALES – a scale having two or more levers working together, as in platform scales,* Fig. 14.

COMPRESSION SPRING SCALE — a scale in which the spring resistant* is shortened, or compressed, by the action of weighing, Fig. 16. See also TENSION SPRING SCALE.

*terms marked with an asterisk appear in this glossary

COMPUTING SCALE — a scale that indicates the price of the goods being weighed, at various rates per unit of weight. See also ESTIMATING SCALE, COUNTING SCALE. 

CONE PIVOT — a pivot in the form of a cone, instead of a knife edge,* often with a cup bearing,* Fig. 17. Also called a BUTTON PIVOT (USA). 

CONSTANT LOAD BALANCE — see SUBSTITUTION BALANCE. 

CONTINUOUS KNIFE EDGE – a knife edge* pivot in which the full length of the knife is in contact with a single bearing* as compared with a knife edge which passes through the beam so that only the ends rest on the bearings, two of which are required to be in alignment, Fig. 18.
See also STIRRUP END, INVERTED SWAN NECK. 

CORD PIVOT — a pivot formed by passing a cord through a hole in the beam in such a way that the flexing of the cord forms the pivot, Fig 6. Probably the first form of pivot used in weighing, and still used in primitive societies.
See also TRUMPET END.

CORN SCALE — see GRAIN SCALE. 

COTTON BEAM, COTTON SCALE — a steelyard adapted for weighing bales of cotton, (USA). 

COUNTERBALANCE — see COUNTERPOISE. 

COUNTERFEIT COIN DETECTOR – a weighing, or weight-proving* instrument which incorporates either a gauge for testing the size of a coin, or facilities for weighing the coin immersed in water. By these means, a counterfeit coin of the correct weight, but made of, or alloyed with, base metal, can be detected.
See also HYDROSTATICAL SCALES, COIN GAUGE. 

COUNTERPOISE — a weight suspended from the end of a steelyard to obtain a balance when the scale is unloaded. It is often attached to a hanger* which serves the additional purpose of carrying proportional weights* for weighing, Fig. 14.
Also called a COUNTERBALANCE (USA). 

COUNTER SCALE — a scale intended for use on the counter of a shop or warehouse. Also called a BENCH SCALE (USA). 

COUNTING SCALE — a scale, generally with an unequal-arm beam of specific ratio,* whereby one article is balanced against a larger number of identical articles. E.G., a beam with a ratio of 100:1 'counts' a hundred articles. Commonly used in ironmongers for counting nails, screws, etc., Fig. 19.

CRADLE — a frame which supports the goods plate or weight plate on a Beranger* or Phanzeder* scale, Fig. 8 (Glossary A–B). 

CRANKED HANGER — see HANGER. 

CROSS — a cruciform support for a removable pan to rest on, usually at the bottom of a hanger,* Fig. 12. See also SPIDER. 

C - SPRING BALANCE — a spring balance where the resistant* is shaped like the letter 'C', Fig. 15. The term is sometimes used to describe a mancur* balance.

CUP BEARING — a dished bearing used with a cone pivot,* Fig. 17.

CUP WEIGHTS — see NESTING WEIGHTS.

CUPID'S BOW – a decorative bow, or bracket shape, typically under the central boss* of English coin scales, Fig. 13. 

CURRENT WEIGHT — the lowest weight at which a coin is legally allowed to pass at its full-face value, considering the loss in weight due to normal wear. For example, a new guinea weighed 5 DWTS 9½ grains, but worn guineas were legally accepted at 21 shillings with a weight of 5 DWTS 8 grains, after 1774. 

CUT-FROM-SOLID — a scale box that has been dug out from a single piece of wood, and typically used for coin scales and weights.
Abbreviated to CFS. See also MADE-UP-BOX. 

CYPHER —

1. a symbol. E.G., the monarch's initials VR, GR, etc.
2. zero, as used in the instructions for folding gold balances.*

DAMPER — a device used to reduce the number of oscillations of a scale beam to hasten the process of weighing. One such device has a piston with a small hole through it, in a cylinder. When the piston is moved by the beam, the air flows slowly through the hole thus shortening the motion, Fig 26. Other devices include oil baths and magnetic dampers. The damper has no effect on the sensitivity.* Also called a DASHPOT.

DASHPOT — see DAMPER.

DECIMAL SCALE — a compound lever scale* with a lever ratio* of 10:1. It was devised by Alois Quintenz for use with the metric system of weights and patented in 1822, Fig. 21. 

DENTAL SCALE — a scale used by dentists for weighing the ingredients of dental amalgam used to fill cavities in teeth, Fig. 23.

DEPOSÉ — registered (French).

DIAL, DIAL INDICATOR — a flat circular chart* carrying a circle of graduations* and used with a rotating pointer.* Alternatively, the dial may rotate against a fixed indicator.*

DIVISIONS — the small intervals between graduation* marks.

DO'TCHIN — a Chinese steelyard commonly in the form of a slender ivory beam with two or three suspension cords, a pan suspended by four cords, and a weight hanging on a loop of cord. Contained in a box shaped like a violin or like a fish. Used for weighing pieces of silver, gold, coins, or other small items. Often called (incorrectly) an OPIUM SCALE, Fig. 22. Larger versions were used for weighing market goods.

DOUBLE HOLE END — a flattened beam end with two holes close together. The thin strip of metal between the holes was formed into a form of knife edge. A wire loop passes through the holes for attachment of the cords, Fig. 6, No.11. (Glossary A-B) 

DROP — see PENDANT. 

DRUM — a cylinder used with a steel band* as part of a scale mechanism, for example, for the pointer.*

DUCAT SCALE — a scale designed specifically for weighing the Hungarian ducat. One pan was pre-loaded* to the weight of the coin so that no weights were needed. A quadrant* curved from the pointer to the beam and was marked to indicate any deficiency in weight, in grains, Fig. 24. Thus, the scale combined an equal­ arm and pendulum system. Made in Nuremberg.

DUTCH END — a beam end which has bearings in two side plates connected at the top and bottom by rods, Fig. 6, No.23 (Glossary A–B).

^† Revised from original.