Accession No

1370

Brief Description

letter scales, by S. Mordan and Company, English, 1840-1871

Origin

England; London

Maker

S. Mordan and Company

Class

balances

Earliest Date

1840

Latest Date

1871

Inscription Date

Material

wood; metal; (brass, steel); paper; hide (leather); cloth (felt)

Dimensions

length of beam 183mm; height 200mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Inscription

‘S. MORDAN & CO
MAKERS
WARRANTED’ (base)
‘POST OFFICE
LETTER WEIGHTS
WARRANTED
S. MORDAN & Co. London.’ (label on base)

Description Notes

Brass balance on wooden base. Brass flat beam with self-locating steel knife-edge and ring end-bearings and centre bearing. Index over; gallons with ‘acorn’ motif above. Circular brass weight pan with brass suspension rods. Flat leather-covered letter pan with straight (inclined) steel suspension rod. The whole supported on turned brass pillar which screws into wooden base. Holes in base for 5 weights (all missing), marked ‘8P’, ‘4P’, ‘2P’, ‘1P’, ‘1F.P.’. Brass button depresses ebony rests which support and secure pans.

Condition: good; incomplete (weights missing).

References

Events