Summary

Platform scales, manufactured by Fairbanks. Used in a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1900.

Physical Description

Commercially-built platform scale on wheels. Cast iron base supports iron weighing platform with wooden floor. At back, square hollow wooden post supports a hooked rod which bears the weight of the platform and which hooks onto a brass balancing arm, marked in pounds up to 50. There is a cylindrical sliding weight, and on the end a loop for a metal weight holder. There are three weights - flat, circular pieces of metal with a slit to the centre. The weights are for 50, 100 and 200 lbs.

More Information