Fairbanks Tabletop 1-Pound Grain Scale ]]> Weighing - Agriculture]]> This table model grain scale weighs 16-ounce samples. It was usually used in labs to determine the properties of the sample including moisture and inert material.

The two measures on the beam tell the weight of a sample (upper) and the percentage of deduction for the sample after cleaning and drying (lower). It is unusual that the beam does not have a weight-per-bushel graduation.

It is made of cast iron with a brass beam. This rectangle base is probably found on the earlier models. This example is missing the brass cup that holds the grain.

Franklin Fairbanks, son/nephew of the company founders, was issued the patent in 1877. The patent covers the two graduations on the beam.

References:
See Exhibits > Introduction to Grain Scales

]]> E. & T. Fairbanks & Company, St. Johnsbury, Vermont, USA]]> US Patent Dec. 18, 1877 (No. 198,364; filed Sept. 28, 1877)]]> (33 x 9 x 12.5 cm)]]> Ohaus 4-Pound Grain Scale]]> Weighing - Agriculture]]> This Ohaus 4-pound grain scale is used to determine the weight of a bushel of grain. It has a “Two Quart Dry” bucket, which means it is a Winchester1 bushel measure (Imperial bushels do not distinguish between liquid and dry measures).

It can also determine the percent of moisture and/or inert material in a sample. There are three weight measures on the beam. The top is the weight per bushel, the middle is the weight of the sample, the bottom line is the percent of deduction after cleaning and drying.

This example is labeled simply as “Ohaus.” National Scale Works (NSW) used the Ohaus brand, and then the company became OHAUS Corporation in 1947, dropping the NSW name. So, was this example made before or after the 1947 corporate change?

The scale is made of aluminum with iron pivots.

References:
1See Exhibits > Introduction to Grain Scales

]]> Ohaus Corporation, Newark, New Jersey, USA ]]> (43 x 16.5 x 43 cm)]]> Seeburo Striker to Level Grain in Cup]]> Weighing - Agriculture]]> This Seedburo wood grain-striker is used to remove excess grain so the sample is level with the bucket edges. Its edges are rounded so it does not remove too much grain.

Seedburo marketed products; so they probably did not make this striker. Related, Seedburo sold a grain scale that was made by National Scale Works under the Ohaus brand.]]> Seedburo Equipment Co., 1022 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, Illinois, USA ]]> (30.5 x 5 x 1 cm)]]> Fairbanks Imperial 4-Pound Grain Scale]]> Weighing - Agriculture]]> This Fairbanks grain scale is a 4-pound scale. It was used to determine the weight of grain in an Imperial bushel1. “Imperial” is stamped into the weight, made for the United Kingdom market.

The beam has three graduations. The top line tells the weight of an Imperial bushel. The second line is the actual weight of the sample. And the bottom line shows the percent of deduction for the sample after it is cleaned and dried.

Number 70 on the weight and beam shows they are matched; often the number will also be on the bucket bail. The other numbers on the scale are probably inspector numbers.

The scale is made of brass, with iron connector parts and bearings.

Fairbanks had an 1877 patent on this type of scale. So, with no patent showing on this example, it would have been made after the patent expired in 1894. It also has inspection seals of “GR,” which date its use after 1910.

References:
1See Exhibits > Introduction to Grain Scales

            Title: Grain Scales]]> E. & T. Fairbanks & Company, St. Johnsbury, Vermont, USA]]> (40.5 x 15 x 43 cm)]]> Fairbanks 2-Pound Grain Scale]]> Weighing - Agriculture]]> This grain scale is a 2-pound scale. It was used to determine the weight of grain in a Winchester1 bushel.

The three measures on the beam tell:

  • Weight of a bushel (top line)
  • Actual weight of the sample (second line)
  • Percent of deduction after cleaning and drying (bottom line)

It is made of brass with iron pivots.  

Franklin Fairbanks, son/nephew of the company founders, was issued the patent in 1877. The patent covers two of the three graduations on the beam: the actual weight of the sample in the receiver bucket and the percent of deduction after cleaning/drying.

Knowing the Fairbanks patent date helps date competitors’ scales that have the three graduations because they must have been made after the Fairbanks patent expired in 1894.

We also have a 4-pound version of this scale (CLICK HERE).

References:
1See Exhibits > Introduction to Grain Scales

]]> E. & T. Fairbanks & Company, St. Johnsbury, Vermont, USA]]> US Patent Dec. 18, 1877 (No. 198,364; filed Sept. 28, 1877)]]> (35.5 x 12.5 x 33 cm)]]> Fairbanks Winchester Bushel 4-Pound Grain Scale]]> Weighing - Agriculture]]> This Fairbanks grain scale is a 4-pound scale. It is used to determine the weight of grain in a Winchester1 bushel. The three measures on the beam tell the weight of a bushel (top line), the actual weight of the sample (second line), and the percent of deduction after cleaning/drying (bottom line).

It is made of cast iron with a brass cup. The numbers stamped on the bottom indicate the poise and beam are matched. Often the bail of the bucket is marked, also.

Franklin Fairbanks, son/nephew of the company founders, was issued the patent in 1877. The patent covers two of the three graduations on the beam: the actual weight of the sample in the receiver bucket and the percent of deduction after cleaning/drying.

Knowing the Fairbanks patent date helps date competitors’ scales that have the three graduations because they must have been made after the Fairbanks patent expired in 1894.

We also have a 2-pound version of this scale (CLICK HERE).

References:
1See Exhibits > Introduction to Grain Scales

]]> E. & T. Fairbanks & Company, St. Johnsbury, Vermont, USA]]> US Patent Dec. 18, 1877 (No. 198,364; filed Sept. 28, 1877) ]]> (40.5 x 15 x 43 cm)]]> Howe 1-Liter Grain Scale]]> Weighing - Agriculture]]> This Howe 1-liter grain scale was probably made for the European grain market.

The top line is the bushel weight in liters, the middle line is the weight in liters of the sample, and the bottom line tells the percent of deduction for inert material and moisture. In most grain scales each part was cast.

Howe had a unique construction using four pins to hold the top and bottom of the weight together. The beam was also attached to the hanger with two pins. Not all, but most known Howe scales were made this way.

References:
See Exhibits > Introduction to Grain Scales

]]> Howe Scale Company, Rutland, Vermont, USA]]> (35.5 x 12.5 x 35.5 cm)]]> Ohaus Tabletop Grain Scale]]> Weighing - Agriculture]]> This Ohaus table-model grain scale is used to determine the weight of a bushel of grain.

This scale has a second beam on top that weighs 0 to 25 grams, and it is used with the top line on the main beam, which shows the weight of the sample in grams. The middle line on the main beam is the percent deducted after cleaning and drying, and it also shows the sample’s weight in ounces. The bottom line is pounds per bushel. Under the beam is an adjustable weight to zero-balance the beam.

The Seed Trade Reporting Bureau called this the “Four-in-One Dockage Scale” because it could be used to weigh items other than grain.

The scale can weigh measured samples in the pan, which has an end cover for pouring.

The Seed Trade Reporting Bureau used the “Seedboru” brand name, but it does not show on this scale. And its founder, LeRoy M. Smith, held the patent on this scale, contracting to the Newark Scale Works for manufacturing.

Newark Scale Works was created by the Ohaus brothers in 1914 and incorporated as OHAUS Scale Company in 1947, but we are uncertain of when NSW used the Ohaus brand. Also, the “NSW” logo can be seen on the brass hinge covers.

References:
See Exhibits > Introduction to Grain Scales

]]> Newark Scale Works, Newark, New Jersey, USA ]]> US Patent March 9, 1915 (No. 1,131,165)]]> (37 x 10 x 23 cm)]]> Ohaus Tabletop Balance Scale]]> Weighing - Agriculture]]> This Ohaus scale could be used to weigh samples of grain, probably in a lab. Other products could also be weighed. The bearing covers have the “NSW” logo―National Scale Works―the scale’s maker.

It is labeled as having “Capacity 2 Kilos” (4.4 pounds), and the beam is in tenths of a gram. Iron pivots on each side make it accurate. The two knurled screws under the beam will balance the scale.

Newark Scale Works was created by the Ohaus brothers in 1914 and incorporated as OHAUS Scale Company in 1947, but we are uncertain of when NSW started to use the Ohaus brand. This example, without “Scale Company” as part of the OHAUS logo, was probably made before 1947.

Also, Gustav Ohaus has US Patent 1,732,612, issued in 1929, for a “Trip Scale.” This example shows several characteristics of the patent, including the roberval mechanism and large covers required for the special bearings. Patent information would be on a plate that is missing from the front of the scale’s base.

References:
See Exhibits > Introduction to Grain Scales

]]> Newark Scale Works, Newark, New Jersey, USA ]]> Unknown]]> (32 x 29 x 23 cm)]]> Brass Funnel for Grain Scales]]> Weighing - Agriculture]]> These brass funnels are often used to fill the bucket when weighing grain. This one has rings so it could be hung. The funnel can reduce spilling and create an even packing when the bucket is filled.]]> Unknown]]> (20.5 x 20.5 x 18 cm)]]>