Scale

Dateca. 1880

Mediumsteel

Dimensions13 × 1 3/8 × 5/8 in. (33 × 3.5 × 1.6 cm)

ClassificationsTools, Implements & Weights

Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, gift of Bill and Sally Blackstad

Object numberPC2001.35.4

DescriptionThis steel Chatillon scale, manufactured before the 1890s, is a compact, hand-held instrument made of polished metal, giving it a silver appearance with slight patina from age. Rectangular in shape with decorative, scalloped edges, the scale features a linear slot revealing a measurement gauge marked with engraved numerals on two sides. One side measures from 0 to 4 pounds in lbs and the other side measures from 0 to 64 in ounces. The numbers are flanked by finely etched hash marks, which assist in precision readings. A slender, elongated rod extends from each end of the scale, one of which terminates in a small hook designed for weighing objects. The device is stamped with the words “CHATILLON / NEW YORK / U.S.A.,” indicating its origin with the John Chatillon & Sons company, a prominent American manufacturer of precision weighing instruments. The Chatillon has irregular wavy shape to its embossing, a feature of the company's logo. This scale exemplifies the late 19th-century emphasis on practical yet elegantly crafted tools used in trade, science, and domestic applications. Its compact design suggests it may have been used for weighing light materials, such as textiles, mail, or scientific specimens. Instruments like this were vital in various industries and could have had ties to Albuquerque’s growth during the territorial period, especially as the city expanded as a hub for railroads, trade, and scientific endeavors. Merchants, engineers, or scientists in the region likely utilized such scales for tasks requiring precise weight measurement.

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