Fairbanks Winchester Bushel 4-Pound Grain Scale

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