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

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"

Antique Scale, Torsion Balance Co. New York 1891

This is a second scale purchased by hubs and I at an antique auction. The wording on it reads:

The Torsion Balance Co.

New York

Pat. May '91

Style 257

#34681

This appears to be a pharmacy or chemical company scale.

Hubby took the scale apart, gave it a thorough cleaning and replaced a few broken parts.

What a difference! It gleams and is in excellent condition. A very nice addition to our collection. 

BILATERAL DUTCH POSTAL SCALE

Another scale we got at auction recently. I have not been able to find out much about it!

BILATERAL POSTAL SCALE

- scale body is made of brass and iron, black varnish

- two scales: up to 100 g and 500 g

- marked on front swing arm: BILATERAL

- marked on rear "Niet voor handelsooeleinden" I know that "niet voor" is Dutch for "Not for" and "handel" is Dutch for "trade" I haven't been able to determine the rest.
- measurements are 21 cm (8.3“) high, pan 11.5 x 10 cm (4.5“ by 3.9“)

- weight is 500 g

C. Wilson & Son Scale, Toronto Ontario

Yesterday hubs and I attended another antique auction - an indoor one this time (last week's was outside in frigid 50' weather)

We bid on and won quite a few scales. One was this C WILSON & SON scale from Toronto Ontario.

Found a reference in Sessional Papers Canada Parliament #15; Report of the Minister of Agriculture 1902

Excerpt on p. 186: C. Wilson & Son, 67 Esplanade St. East Toronto Ontario - Silver Medal Diploma

Excerpt on p. 200, reporting on the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900.

"C. Wilson & Son, of Toronto, were equally successful in obtaining a silver medal for their full collection of fine scales, from the smallest confectionery to the 1,000 lbs. platform scale. These scales, which indicate price and weights, were regarded with much interest by visitors who had no previous knowledge of the system".

Found in History of Toronto and Co. of York, Ontario:

"C. Wilson & Co. Toronto Scale Works, 45 Epslanade [City of Toronto] This is one of the oldest businesses of the kind in the Dominion, having been established in 1851. Employment is given to 25 men and 8 travellers. Mr. C. Wilson was born in Co. Armagh Ireland in 1818 and settled in Ottawa in 1840, obtaining a position in the department of the Surveyor-General. He came to Toronto in 1849"

Another Gurneys Antique Scale!

Another Gurneys Antique Scale!

We bought this lovely antique scale recently at a large antique mall near Barrie Ontario. The decals and paint are original and in really good shape so we could not resist! Even the balance plate has original detailing and decals.

We have a fairly large collection of antique scales and it's hard to resist something different or in great condition. This is a Gurneys Scale which adds another one to our collection. Gurneys was based in Hamilton Ontario. In 1856 Elijah W. Ware had established a scale factory in Hamilton and the Gurneys were soon associated with him, forming Gurney, Ware and Company.

Apothecary Scale and Weights

 Apothecary Scale and Weights found in Massachusetts Antique Store. Privately owned

Gurneys Antique Scale Ontario

Gurney Antique 16 lb. Scale with porcelain tray. Labelled Gurneys and Ware, Hamilton Ontario. Balance scale, uses counterweights. Red paint with gold, good condition. Gurneys logo painted on metal. Circa 1902-1910

Canadian Scale Makers, (ie: Gurney & Ware, Gurney, C. Wilson, Osborne, Fairbanks, Wm. & J. G. Greey, Burrow Stewart & Milne, Hamilton Scale Company, New Warren Scale Co., Renfrew Scale Co., for example), had to have their products verified prior to sale to merchants.

The stamped verification sequence allows collectors to more accurately date scales and weights. For eg you might see a (crown) with ER over Q, T.18

(crown)ER Edward VII reigns 1902 – 1910

T Toronto

Month Indication Number 18 Month (of a 2 year span) of original verification

Series Letter Q Identifies a 2 year period. 1906 - 1907

Kemp Manufacturing 1867-1911

Some sources Canadian Weights and Measures

We also have in our personal collection scales with the mark

(crown)VR Queen Victoria reign 1837-1901

The 1851 Directory of Ontario shows the following listing under FOUNDRIES AND MACHINISTS

GURNEY & CARPENTER, ironfounders and manufacturers of
threshing machines, castings, machinery, hollow,
copper and tinware, pipe boxes, potash kettles, &c., John st.