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About Bill & Jan Berning
Expertise
We can answer almost any question regarding antique scales of any type.

Experience
We are dealers in antique coin operated penny scales and parts. We collect antique scales of all types. Bill has been buying and selling scales and mail order penny scale parts since 1983. Jan started collecting small scales of all types in 1977. Our combined collection of antique scales contains over 2200 scales. We are the authors of the book Scales: A Collector's Guide and The revised & Expanded 2nd Edition of Scales: A Collector's Guide. Jan is the editor of "Equilibrium" the journal of The International Society of Antique Scale Collectors. Our website is www.PennyScale.com

Organizations
The International Society of Antique Scale Collectors www.isasc.org, Coin Operated Collectors Association

Publications
Articles by or about the Bernings have appeared in issues of “Southeastern Antiquing and Collecting Magazine”, “This Old House”, "Reminisce", “Equilibrium” and “Country Living”.

Education/Credentials
Jan: BS FACS & Art University of Georgia

You are here: Experts > Hobbies > Antiques: UK > Collectibles-General (Antiques) > h.troemner #24 ball scale

Collectibles-General (Antiques) - h.troemner #24 ball scale

Expert: Bill & Jan Berning - 11/8/2009

Question
Im new to this type of collecting.What can you tell me about a scale that reads H Troemners ball. scale no. 24

Answer
Hi Gary,

The 1921 Troemner catalog has a full page devoted to the ease and accuracy of Troemner's ball scales:
"Henry Troemner's Ball Scales
These scales are the handiest Scales, perfected by HENRY TROEMNER. Each Scale has the maker's name on it, which is a full guarantee that it is a strictly reliable scale in ever5y sense, and protects purchasers from worthless imitations.
The construction of scale is very simple, and absolutely free of all complications of any kind- a perfect weigher, always sure and reliable.
NO HEAVY WEIGHTS TO HANDLE
To weigh one pound you place the ball in the first hole; to weigh two pounds you place it in the second hole, and so on until the full capacity is reached; the fractions of a pound are weighed on the side beam in front, each notch on it represents 1/4 ounce.
The following letter, from the official government inspector of Scales and Weights, at the United States Mint, speaks for itself:
UNITED STATES MINT
PHILADELPHIA
HENRY TROEMNER, ESQ.
Dear Sir:-I have carefully tested your new Ball Scale, and am pleased to state that it is a marked improvement over other methods of weighing. It saves the handling of weights, and weighs with the utmost accuracy and speed, and, in my opinion, is just what every merchant should have on his counter.
Very respectfully,
ELLIS PUGH,
Adjuster of Weights and Balances, U.S. Mint

In introducing our Ball Scale to our friends and the public, we do so with the full assurance that the Ball Scale will prove itself to be all we claim for it, a strictly reliable and accurately weighing scale of the first class. The same painstaking care is exercised in their construction as has always been observed in the manufacture of our regular line of Counter Scales that have proven so popular.
New Ideas and New Methods are constantly being sought by us for the purpose of rendering our manufactures the most reliable, the most economical, and the most perfect that mechanical skill and an experience of over seventy-seven years can produce.
CAUTION-No Scale is genuine unless our full name and address is upon it, Avoid Counterfeits.
HENRY TROEMNER"

In testing our 16 pound model with test weights we found it to be very accurate. In order to weigh 12 pounds on our scale, two of the ball weights were placed in the 5 & 6 holes and the poise on the beam was moved to full capacity of 16 ounces (5+6+1=12). 16 pound capacity ball scales are shown with their original weights on pages 38 and 141 of our book "Scales: A Collector's Guide" 2nd edition.

Your number 24 had a 16 pound capacity. All original ball weights for the 16 pound capacity scales, that we have seen, have had their exact weight, 12 oz., cast into each ball.

A scale like yours complete with original weights might retail for $250-600 depending on which base design you have. The ornate base scales are worth more on the retail market.

Hope this helps.
Weigh Daily!!!

Bill & Jan Berning

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