Summary
Platinum iridium pound weight, avoirdupois. Primary standard pound weight for Victoria, 1864.
The weight was initially held by the Victorian Customs & Excise Department at the Customs House in Flinders Street, Melbourne. At Federation in 1901, when customs functions were transferred to the Commonwealth Government, the standards were transferred to Melbourne Observatory, which took over responsibility for administering weights and measures for Victoria. With the closing of Melbourne Observatory in 1944, a Weights and Measures Branch of the Victorian Government took over responsibility.
Physical Description
Platinum iridium weight in wooden hinged box, with ivory lifter.
More Information
-
Collection Names
Melbourne Observatory Collection, Weights and Measures Collection
-
Collecting Areas
Home & Community, Science & Measurement, Working Life & Trades
-
Acquisition Information
Transfer from Office of Trade Measurement (formerly Weights & Measures Branch), Victoria: Local Government Department, by 1984
-
User
Victoria: Customs & Excise Department, Flinders Street, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1864-1901
-
User
Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1901-1944
-
User
Victoria: Weights & Measures Branch, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1944-1984
-
Inscriptions
Weight marked on top: 'Primary Standard Pound Avoirdupois, Victoria 1864.' Stamped on bottom '1383'. Box painted on top: 'Primary Standard Pound Avoirdupois, Victoria 1864', with smaller inscription '127'.
-
Classification
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
Exhibition Collection Management
100 mm (Length), 178 mm (Width), 127 mm (Height)
-
Object Dimensions
12.5 cm (Length), 17.8 cm (Width), 10 cm (Height)
-
Keywords
Physical Apparatus & Instruments, Platinum Metals & Compounds, Standard Weights & Measures, Weights
