Antique W & T. Avery Ltd Scale

 Antique W & T. Avery Ltd Scale

Antique W & T. Avery Ltd Scale

W & T Avery Ltd. is a British manufacturer of weighing machines. The company was founded in the early 18th century and took the name W & T Avery in 1818.

 Antique W & T. Avery Ltd Scale

Unusual Egg Australian Scale

Unusual Egg scale from Australia

Unusual Egg scale from Australia

Jiffy Way Tin Egg Scale

Jiffy Way Tin Egg Scale

Jiffy Way Tin Egg Scale for grading and measuring eggs

Acme Egg Grading Scale

Acme Egg Grading Scale made in St. Paul Minnesota

Premier Egg Scale

Premier Egg Scale. Massey Collection

Premier Egg Scale to measure and grade egg sizes.

Salter's Spring Balance Scale

Salter's Spring Balance Scale

Made in England. Part of our scale collection.

SALTER HOUSEWARES itself began life in the late 1700S in the village of Bilston, England. At this time Richard Salter, a spring maker, began making 'pocket steelyards', a scale similar to the fisherman's scale of today.

By 1825 his nephew George had taken over the company, which became known as GEORGE SALTER & CO. and later established a large, well equipped manufacturing site in the town of West Bromwich.

The brass face reads:

Salter's Spring Balance Made in England
30 lb by 2 oz
Brass Scale

Antique Gurney & Ware Scale

Antique Gurney & Ware Scale

Well, another great find at Barrie Antiques Centre, Innisfil Street. Lorine and I spotted a balance scale with the original decorations and painting, plus the original brass pan and ceramic plate with "Gurney's & Ware, Hamilton" on it. The plate had split down the middle but considering the age of the scale that's not unexpected.

The scale had been assembled incorrectly, I guess by the dealer who had it for sale, but I knew I could fix that at home. Someone at one time had added lead shotgun pellets and old nuts in the well where you unscrew the brass plate (for weight) but you don't see that anyway.

Charles and Edward Gurney arrived in Hamilton, Ontario from Utica New York, in 1842 and became 2 of 3 partners in the Gurney and Carpenter Iron Foundry. Elijah Ware and Edwin Dalley started a commercial scale company in 1856 and in 1885 Dalley sold his share to the Gurney brothers. The company was renamed the Gurney Scale Company (G.S.C.)


...Read more about these early Hamilton industrial establishments

Vintage Purina Advertising Cow Chow Milk Scale

Vintage Purina Advertising Cow Chow Milk Scale

This is a very nice Purina Cow Chow Scale. The brass face has the following lettering:

COW CHOW
Makes More Milk
At Less Cost

Farmer's Milk Scale
Not Legal For Trade

Spring Balanced
to 30 lbs.
Warranted

Don't Guess - Use This
Purina Milk Scale

The company behind the famous checkerboard symbol, Purina Mills, was founded by William H. Danforth in 1894. The Purina Company (originally called the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company) was the result of a partnership which was formed to produce animal feed, and operate a retail feed store.

Purina commissioned numerous products which were given to salesmen, customers and owners of these feed companies, in return for new or enlarged accounts. This was part of the massive advertising technique to develop wholesale and retail accounts from feed stores, feed lots, farms and dairies.

Among the many products produced as incentives were: brass scales for weighing milk, baby chickens, rings, clothespin bags, posters and signs, brass animals, fine art animal paintings, ties, and well-made pocketknives with the famous Purina name and red and white checkerboard overlaid with clear celluloid on the sides of the handles.

I have two of these scales, this one is in the best condition and I'm selling the other one on E-Bay. This one hangs on our sunroom wall with quite a few other steelyard and spring balance scales.

Burrows, Stewart & Milne Scale

Burrows, Stewart & Milne Scale

This is one of my favourite scales in our collection - the red paint is original and you can still see the gorgeous decals and designs.

All the original weights and basket are with this scale. It was made in Hamilton Ontario circa 1870s.

The original founders were William Burrows (born England died Jan 1, 1909 Hamilton) and Charles Stewart (born Oct 14, 1837 N.J. died Oct 8, 1915 Hamilton). Burrows and Stewart established a firm called Hamilton Malleable Iron Works in 1864. In 1867 John C. Milnes joined the firm and rose through the ranks to treasurer and partner in 1872 at which time they changed the name to Burrows, Stewart & Milne Co. Limited.

The original building was first built in 1868 and was expanded sometime in the 1890's. It endured three fires, the last one in 1948.

Burrows Stewart & Milne manufactured stoves, scales, furnaces as well as carriage and saddlery hardware. For sometime, they were the largest manufacturer of curry-combs in the British Empire. In 1868, they employed approximately 30 employees and by 1910 they had over 300 employees.

According to the Hamilton Jewel Cookbook (issued by BS&M) they were the largest makers of gas goods in Canada. "Jewel" was the patented brand name of their stoves. Many of their scales are stamped with "Champion Jewel Scale"

Philipp Jacob Maul Concav Scale

Philipp Jacob Maul Concav Scale

This is a pendulum scale (cast iron) produced by the firm Philipp Jacob Maul of Hamburg in Germany. This firm was established in 1874. In 1943 the factory was bombed and levelled to the ground. The production of scales restarted in 1948. The firm survived until August 1989.

The distinctive Maul logo can be seen on this scale, which I believe is a Heavy Concav Quadrant Letter/Postal Scale. Stamped on the scale is "Voor Huishoudelijk Gebruik" which is Dutch for "For Domestic Use". The enamelled chart is concav positioned and has the CONCAV mark on it along with the Maul logo. It weighs items up to 500 grams, has a zero levelling screw and rotatable legs.

Figural Antique Victorian Napkin Ring

This is another Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring in my personal collection.

It was made by the Toronto Silverplate Company

Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring Best Wishes

This is another Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring in my personal collection.

An owl sits on a wishbone beside the holder which is engraved "Best Wishes"

It was made by the Toronto Silverplate Company

Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring Lily Pad

This is another Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring in my personal collection.

This is a Meridian Brittanica Co. Number 168 and consists of a lily leaf (pad) with a lily bud on the handle. In 1888 it sold for $1.33 but in today's market it is worth just under $200.00

Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring Lion

This is another Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring in my personal collection.

I like this little lion but his tail is missing. Some great designs on the ring holder part add to its appeal.

If it were in good condition this little napkin ring would be worth $200.00-$300.00. As is it's worth around $100.00

I don't even want to tell you how little I paid for it. Okay, twist my arm. I got this little gem for $3.00. He's fine for the Christmas table.

Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring Cherries and Leaves

This is another Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring in my personal collection.

It's a pretty little square napkin holder with cherries and leaves.

Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring - Bird and Wishbone

This is another Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring in my personal collection.

It isn't my favourite. I'm not fond of these disembodied heads of birds and animals sticking out from the ring part. But my grandchildren love it and always hope they get it as theirs on the Christmas table.

Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring Barrel with Leaves

This is another Victorian Era Antique Napkin Ring in my personal collection.

It has no makers' mark and is a barrel being held by leaves and branches.

A similar napkin holder sells for $200.00

Double Flower Antique Victorian Napkin RIng

I can't tell you much about this Victorian era Napkin Ring as it is not in my book.

It was manufactured by the Toronto Silverplate Company and is Number 60

Heart Snuff Box for Thomas Watters, Miller

Top of wood and brass antique snuff box engraved for a local miller named Thomas Watters. 

The heart that you see has a beautiful peacock engraved on it. And that is where you open the snuff box. It's rather tricky to do!

                                            Private Collection of L. Massey