Accession No

1404

Brief Description

apothecary's scales, by William Sangster, English, 1800 (c)

Origin

Engand; London; Temple Bar; Butcher Row; King’s Arms

Maker

Sangster, William

Class

balances

Earliest Date

1800

Latest Date

1800

Inscription Date

Material

metal (steel, brass); wood; paper; rope (cord); cloth (felt ?)

Dimensions

box length 202mm; breadth 92mm; height 33mm

Special Collection

Cavendish collection

Provenance

Transferred from the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, in 1974. Originally from the Wollaston Collection.

Inscription

‘Willm. Sangster
Scale Maker to his MAJESTY
At the Kings Arms in Butcher Row, Temple Barr
LONDON
Makes and Sells all Sorts of Scales & Weights According to his Majesty’s
Proclamation, Likewise Makes all sorts of Steelyards and Puts
all Sorts of Scales & Weights in Repair and keeps them in repair Yearly.
NB. The above are the most Reasonable Rates.’ (paper label in lid of box)
‘G208’ (painted on box lid, and on paper label on lid)

Description Notes

Steel beam and fittings; swan’s neck ends; self-locating steel knife-edge and ring bearing; index above. Ring bearing in gallows to hook and tassel; two circular brass pans with suspension cords (pans in badly corroded condition). Box with section for weights. 1 weight and 3 fractional weights extant.
Paper label in box lid. Hand written list of Troy weights and Apothecary’s Weights. Hook fastening.

Condition: fair (pans badly corroded).

References

Events