EQM 2023 Issue 2

EQUILIBRIUM QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ANTIQUE SCALE COLLECTORS 2023 ISSUE NO. 2 PAGES 5045-5072

EQUILIBRIUM Table of Contents EQM Coordinator The Hahn Pendulum Scale Gene McPherson Comes to America asakim5353@msn.com 713-582-1608 Utz Schmidt Associate Editor page 5047 Diana Crawforth-Hitchins Tel 01865.763096 A Letter Home... lehitchins@gmail.com Graphic Designer Gregg A. Motter Ruth Nechas page 5063 EQUILIBRIUM is published quarterly A Roman Scale Love Poem © 2023 International Society of Antique Scale Collectors page 5070 ISSN: 0893-2883 Notes & Queries No. 164 International Society of Antique Scale Collectors page 5072 Founded September 1976 Narcissé Briais patented this postal steelyard in 1862, making the beam to Tel 651.332.1455 suit the French taste. It weighed up to 100grammes. As with many French www.isasc.org scales, it was made of a lighter gauge of brass than was normal in Britain. (Private collection) President Cover Picture Allan Rodin There were few postal scales made in France, compared with the huge Vice Presidents number made in Britain, but the ones that survive are distinctive because Michael Foster of the decorative beams on the robervals. This example was not named but Greg Hill is similar to robervals made by Narcissé Briais of Paris. (Private collection) Greg Moss Mary Anne Murphy 5046 Ernie Segundo Secretary Carol Hayden Treasurer Judy Soslau Member at Large Kurt Beyreis For membership information contact: Fred Rengel flmrengel@comcast.net IRS 501(c)(3) EIN 36-2976411 Follow us on facebook and instagram

The Hahn Pendulum Scale Comes to America Philipp Matthäus Hahn’s Design Revived 100 Years Later By Utz Schmidt A s often happens, coincidences rule our lives. Figure 1: 1880s—Kleinsteuber, lever scale no. 46 In this case, the search of information and a patent for a novel lever scale in America woke up the ghostly memory of a 100-year- older twin. Astonishment turned into a drive to explore the rest of the story. The following research propelled us into new worlds of great interest. During our March 2022 worldwide ISASC Zoom program, everyone admired our member Fred Rengel’s unusual quadrant scale—nobody had ever seen one, considering the thousands of scales in our collections. (Fig.1) (Fig. 2) The first clues were the patent number on the dial face, the name C.F. Kleinsteuber of Milwaukee, and the serial number 46. It did not take long for Espacenet Patent Search to find the U.S. patent No. 212,559 for a Lever-Balance, applied for on November 15, 1878, and granted on February 25, 1879, and its inventor C.F. Kleinsteuber of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Fig. 3) At that point, the realization set in that I had seen years ago such an ingenious pendulum scale (also a lever or quadrant scale) in Germany. The simplicity of the design fascinated me, then a young automotive engineer and upstart scale collector. Research began immediately and involved Claus Borgelt; my photographer, Dietmar Haenchen; Fred Rengel; Greg Figure 2: 1879—Kleinsteuber, quadrant inscription, scale Figure 3: 1879—Kleinsteuber patent sketch, lever no. 46, US patent Feb. 25, 1879 balance 5047

Moss; Jan Berning; Karen Shepard, my genealogy Figure 4: 1973—Onstmettingen became part of Albstadt expert; Martin Sauter, a sponsor of the Philipp Matthaeus Hahn Museum; Susanne Kiefer and Erich as the son of the local pastor, Gottfried Hahn. The family Robens, authors of an article on the “scale mecca” in relocated in 1756 to Onstmettingen because of Gottfried’s Swabia, Germany; and Steve Schaffer, Archivist at the transfer. Philipp Matthäus, then 17, befriended Philipp Milwaukee County Historical Society. Gottfried Schaudt of the same age, the grandson of a schoolmaster in Onstmettingen. Together they began to Out of fairness, the story begins with the first maker acquire the theoretical basis of the natural sciences … of pendulum scales, Philipp Matthäus Hahn. In October while additionally experimenting. 2010 ISASC travelers visited the scale museum in Balingen, Germany, displaying one of the Hahn scales. He studied theology and after his time as a vicar, he became, in 1764, a pastor in Onsmettingen. (Fig. 5, From the Kiefer and Robens article:1 In the mid-20th Fig. 6) century a very small geographical area, not even 45 miles from Stuttgart, housed the largest concentration His home, the Swabian Alb, played a big role in his of makers of scales and balances in Germany and activities, as described by Kiefer and Robens: Although the world. In its prime there were 30 companies, employing more than 3,000 people in Onstmettingen and its surrounding (Fig. 4), within a radius of just nine miles, producing precision and assay balances for the pharmaceutical and chemical industry and also those used for commerce. There are still three renowned scale makers left: Mettler-Toledo in Albstadt, and Bizerba and Gottlieb Kern & Sohn in Balingen. And there are three museums, giving witness to the rich past: in Balingen the Museum for Scales and Weights, and in Albstadt-Onstmettingen the Philipp-Matthaeus-Hahn- Museum and also the Riedschule with the collections of Jenemann, Danell, Keinath and others. … The outstanding initiator of the scale industry on the Swabian Alb, was the Pastor Philipp Matthäus Hahn. He was born on November 11, 1739, in Scharnhausen, Filder, Figure 5: Hahn – Pastor in Figure 6: 1822—Painting of Onstmettingen Kornwestheim 5048

quite idyllic to see, the Swabian Alb offers miserable Ludwigsburg.” (Fig.9) Once completed and given to conditions for farming with its poor soil and harsh the duke Carl Eugen of Wuerttemberg, Hahn’s invest- winters. To make up for their resulting meager income, ed money was returned to him. [In 1773, he also in- people did home-labor. By the end of the 17th century, vented the first mechanical calculator!] (Fig.10) the Black Forest area started producing clocks and, following their example, Onstmettingen began probably shortly afterwards. But their approach was slightly different—they used metal instead of the customary wood of the Black Forest. The manufacturers were blacksmiths by trade and the assembly took place in their parlor [typical of a cottage industry]. … (Fig.7) [Hahn] and his longtime friend began to imple- ment the dream of their youth: To feature the celestial structure with a machine. (Fig.8) After trials with small astronomical clocks, in 1768-69 the two of them, with the help of local clock makers, manufactured a big as- tronomical clock: the so-called “World-Machine from Figure 9: 1868-69—Ludwigsburger machine by Hahn Figure 7: Ca. 1820—Uhrenproduktion in Neustadt im Schwarzwald13 [Watch production in Neustadt in the Black Forest]( J. M. Voltz, 32 x 40 cm, GLA Karlsruhe) Figure 8: 1714—Planetarium by P.H. Hahn Figure 10: Four-species calculator by Hahn 5049

Figure 11: Da Vinci pendulum scale sketch2 Figure 12: 1758—Theory of Scales, General Design of Mechanical Principles3 Let’s take a little detour into Figure 13: 1758—Pendulum scale sketches from Johann Heinrich Lambert3 the origins of quadrant scales but limit ourselves to those using Theory of Scales with the subtitle Figure 14: 1772—Pendulum scale patent lever designs—pendulums. It is Mechanical Principles for Gener- sketch from John Sebastian Clais3 doubtful that Hahn and Staudt al Layout. It gives instructions on stumbled during their research on how to build pendulum scales with scale sketches made by Leonardo movable-dial faces (Fig.13) and da Vinci during a period of almost it seems that Lambert was the 70 years, ending in 1519 (Da first to develop their mathematical Vinci’s drawings were in a private theory. He recognized also that dis- collection in England and thus not tance between the divisions gets available for study). Nevertheless, closer together for smaller and for see the depicted quadrant scale,2 bigger loads. shown at the top, (Fig. 11) where the dial face with the graduations Interesting in this context is also moves and the weight shows at John Sebastian Clais. Born as the the line made by a thread with a son of a serf near Schopfheim in plummet. The following is based Switzerland, he learned the watch- on a 1998 excellent study by maker’s trade. During the typical Johannes Lindner.3 He concluded our two young men very likely studied Heinrich Lambert’s 1758 publication Theoria Staterarum (Fig.12) in Latin, translated as 5050

Figure 15: 1772—Patent no. 1014 specifications, John Sebastian Clais3 Wanderjahre for a journeyman, he spent time from 1770 to ’74 in England and got interested in quad- rant scales with fixed dial faces (Fig. 14). This led to his Patent Nr. 1014, April 30, 1772, for an Index balance for weighing money or any other materials without shifting the weights. Clais worked at the time as a clockmaker. He claims: First, one may weigh upon the scale without having other weights to make equipoise; secondly, an index shows upon a dial the dif- ferent weights of heavy and light matters with the utmost accuracy, and without trouble or loss of time and the simplicity of the construc- tion. The original patent text is shown in figures 15 and 16. (Fig. 15, Fig. 16) To find work for his flock, Hahn started a shop to produce various kinds of clocks. (Fig.17) But his genius did not rest there, and he started designing a quadrant scale. Even though he might have learned the concept from either or both da Vinci and Lambert, it is a huge Figure 16: 1772—Patent no. 1014 advantages, John Sebastian Clais3 Figure 17: Table clock, Onstmettingen, Hahn’s Shop 5051

Figure 18 & 19: 11767—Early Hahn scale, wood, graduated in Pfund / Vierling; Pfund / Loth; and Loth / Quint. Reproduction of 1767 original Figure 20 & 21: 1770-1860—Convenient household scale, made in Hahn’s shop, with three load positions engineering step turning the theory into a functional, Hahn’s ingenuity never rested. He made sketches practical design for easy and low-cost production. His for a hydrostatic scale, (Fig.22) a gold scale (Fig.23), brother, by profession a barber, ran the shop. and others. To spread the knowledge of scale making, Hahn wrote in 1774 a booklet, How to build scales, and The first quadrant pendulum scale was made out three years later in a Swabian magazine, Instructions of wood, and beautifully painted with instructions for for Building Scales. Unfortunately, our genius died in the user on the dial face. Nowadays very few people 1790, just 50 years old. can read the old handwriting of the instructions and unfortunately, the hard-to-read text was never His pendulum scale was built unchanged for anoth- transcribed. Shown is a reproduction of a 1767 model. er 20 years when an engineering mind simplified the (Fig. 18, Fig.19) Production on a larger scale started scale lever to reduce the manufacturing cost (Fig.24, about 1770. By then the material had switched to Fig.25). Imagine, Hahn’s pendulum scales were then metal. (Fig.20, Fig. 21) built for another 50 years, ending in 1860. The success 5052

Figure 22: 1774 to 84—Hydrostatic Figure 24: 1770-1809 scale, sketch from Hahn —Hahn scale with bent lever Figure 25: 1810-1860 —Hahn scale with straight lever [edited] Figure 23: 1774 to 84—Gold scale sketch from Hahn Figure 26: Postal scales, pendulum system Figure 27: 1906—Toledo price com- puting fan scale, pendulum system 5053

story of this scale spanned almost almost untouched by the Industrial lists their professions on the page 100 years, quite amazing. The basic Revolution, despite the fact that as “farmers and mechanics.” The principle on the other hand became around them new techniques and manifest also shows Caroline’s last quite handy for a wide variety of technologies changed industry in name as Kleinsteuber. But this was postal scales (Fig.26) and a bit more leaps and bounds. It was also the likely a matter of convenience (or complex version was used for price time of Karl Marx’s The Communist easier travel and US entry) since computing scales, fueling the Hon- Manifesto, just before the revolutions Carl and Caroline were married, just est Weight war in the USA. (Fig.27) of 1848 swept Europe. Above a month after arrival in Milwaukee all, population growth worsened on December 28, 1852. For the second part of the the situation. It was common to story, the story of Carl Friedrich have a family of ten, even though In Saxony there was little Kleinsteuber, Caroline Kleinsteuber, infant mortality rates were high. information on Carl Friedrich and the scale identical to Hahn’s, Unemployment and starvation Kleinsteuber. In the US, he used we go up to Saxony in the Northern were, for many, permanent threats. either name, Carl and Charles. For part of 19th-century Germany. These In contrast, agents from America example, “Charles F. Kleinstüber” were years of strife and upheaval, painted a picture of peace and one’s is the signature on his US patent but there is more to tell about the own land or business. (but the typewritten last name was living conditions in Germany.4 The “Kleinsteuber”), and he used “Carl” country slowly recuperated from It is not a surprise that the on his Civil War Draft Registration. the devastation of the Napoleonic Kleinsteubers, Carl, age 30, and his He was born in Gotha, Saxony, on Wars (1800-1815). Leslie’s sketch future wife Caroline Gust (or Just), November 12, 1822, and Caroline depicted brilliantly the mood swings age 24, anticipated a bleak future in Stettin, Pomerania, on June 26, of a peace-loving Saxon family in Germany, and with a vision of a 1839. Carl died in May 1885. before and after compulsory military paradise in America, they decided service when even the dog turned in 1852 to pack up and leave One tidbit sheds a bit of light into Marshall of the little ones. Gotha, Saxony. They emigrated on on Carl’s upbringing. His uncle, (Fig.28) Frequent internal wars the steamer Richard Cobden from Johann Ernst Kleinstüber, had erupted between the power- and land- Bremen to New York with two of retired as mint-master in 1832 and hungry kingdoms and duchies of a Carl’s brothers, Franz and Otto, and afterward developed or continued in still splintered Germany. (Fig.29) In Otto’s wife, Johanna, and toddler, his workshop to develop a special the 1830s many people, especially Marie. In Milwaukee, Otto became lathe,5 which was able to duplicate in the rural areas, continued to live a saloon keeper. The ship’s manifest metal reliefs, two different designs at the same time up to a size of 5 inches, making three copies each simultaneously in various materials and metals. His relief lathe earned him Figure 28: 1875—A German family, left: Before the blessings of unified Germany; Figure 29: 1815–1866—Map of Ger- right: After requirement of 2-year compulsory military service (caricature: Leslie’s man Confederation (courtesy GNU Illustrierte Zeitung, March 1875) Free Documentation) 5054

a reward, as reported from the 1844 Figure 30: late 1850s—C.F. Kleinsteuber Figure 31: Mid-1860s—C. Kleinsteuber German Trade Exhibition in Berlin. machine shop.14 (Courtesy of Historic machinist and engraver shop.15 According to the reward description, Photo Collection, Milwaukee Public (Courtesy of Historic Photo Collection, the device was quite complex. Library) Milwaukee Public Library) Carl’s later activities in Milwaukee est and fair dealing in business as with its descendant, a computer, leave no doubt that he had learned in well as for his generosity and char- we might want to learn a bit more his uncle’s shop to develop and build itableness. He once bought a tract about the first typewriter and Carl’s complex machinery and even make of land and gave it to his employees involvement. coins. The mint had closed in 1838, for them to build their houses on. He when he was just 16. It is also certain, was the father of nine children, three Christopher Latham Sholes,7 that Carl had saved a fair amount of of whom are living.6 along with other inventors, toiled money for the voyage and the start of in Kleinsteuber’s machine shop in a business. There is no doubt, Carl became Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for nearly very successful in Milwaukee. seven years before his model for The Memoirs of Milwaukee The US Censuses are a proof the world’s first practical typewriter County report in 1909 on Monroe (Table 1). We learn also that the was introduced for mass production A. Kleinsteuber tells interesting family lived at the shop. In the in 1874. (Fig.32) Their typing details on his parents: Monroe A. mid-1860s he needed to increase Kleinsteuber, superintendent of the the width and depth of the shop’s police alarm system of Milwaukee, front part to create more floor space was born in Milwaukee, Wis., April and modernize it for his family 2, 1867, the son of Charles F. and and all his activities, including Carolina Kleinsteuber…. The father coining pennies and typewriter came to America and direct to Mil- development. (Fig. 31) waukee in 1852. Soon after his ar- rival here he established a foundry Early on the work was for the (Fig. 30) and engaged in the manu- typewriter. Writing this article facture of machinery, stencils, brass castings, etc., and it soon became the largest in the city. During the [US Civil War] he was permitted by the government to coin pennies for the businessmen of Milwaukee. He was the first agent for sewing machines in Milwaukee. He also assisted Mr. Densmore in the invention and per- fection of his first typewriter. He was a man well known for his hon- US Age Profession Real Estate Personal Census $5,000 Estate 1860 39 brass foundry 1870 48 machine shop $2,900 1876 Death Caroline, daughter Laura 21yrs keeps house, Oscar 18yrs, Monroe 15yrs $3,000 1880 58 machinist Figure 32: 1872—Female Typist Oper- Table 1: Carl Kleinsteüber census information ates a Sholes and Glidden Typewriter16 (Scientific American, public domain) 5055

Figures 33A & 33B: 1880s—Kleinsteuber lever balance no.74 graduated in pounds and ounces dexterity opened for women a new, quite There is a mystery: Why are his patent lucrative employment opportunity; in the sketch and the Germany-sold Hahn scale 1880s they could earn $15-20 a week, in every aspect identical, and why did he while a saleswoman, being all day on decide to build this scale? The latter part her feet, made a mere six dollars. After is explicable. The available scales on the years of tinkering to improve the original market (Fig. 34) were heavy to transport and 1867 design, James Densmore, an old costly because of their complexity. Hahn’s colleague of Sholes, invested the capital quadrant scale was quite the opposite—direct to bring Sholes’ machine to market and weight record, weighing with high accuracy, persuade manufacturer E. Remington & and little possibility for fraud in trade. Carl Sons of Ilion, New York, a gun and sewing must have seen or owned a Hahn scale machine manufacturer, to produce it. when he designed his identical version, as analyzed in Table 2. I know, yes, it is time to learn more about Carl’s Lever Balance; he had applied Features Hahn Scale Kleinsteüber for a patent in 1878, just three years after Patent the typewriter activities were completed. Production / Patent 1770-1860 As we know from Diana Crawforth- Feb 25, 1879 Hitchins’ patent research that there were Pendulum design yes yes five prior US patents for lever scales, yes likely unknown to Carl, because his patent Scale lever bent Yes sketch is identical to the Hahn lever scale. Wall Bracket or stand [1810s straight] yes And yes, since January 2023 I have a yes Kleinsteuber scale with serial number 74 yes 3 in my possession, thanks to Fred Rengel’s 3 great and relentless purchasing skills. Removable pan yes Thanks, Fred. Its pictures will be used in the following. (Fig. 33A & B) Sets of graduations 3 Load attachment points 3 Table 2: Hahn/Kleinsteüber comparison 5056

The final product shows Carl’s engineering talent for elegance, functionality, and simplicity to assemble. To bring this product to the American market, he needed to patent the weighing system, an option that was not available to Hahn. The German Patent Act dates from May 25, 1877, and even if Hahn had a patent, it would have expired long before 1879. To allow the reader to enjoy the design, a series of pictures follows. Interesting details are part of the captions. (Fig. 35-40A & B) Figure 34: 1880s—Fairbanks Scales Figure 35: 1880s—Components of Figure 36: 1880s—Wall bracket and bracket hold- serial no. 74 er of no. 74 Figure 37: 1880s—Original paint with Figure 38: 1880s—Bearings of no. 74 Figure 39:1880s—Hanger loop wrapped fragments of gold leaf decoration of with wire of no. 74 no. 74 Figures 40A & 40B:1880s—Quadrant, inscription: PATD FEB. 25, 1879, [Scale] no. 74 5057

Figure 41: 1879—Kleinsteuber patent text, lever balance Carl’s patent (Fig. 41) with a nice description of the design and Carl claiming ownership, showed its Wanderlust. The destination was the Phoenix Scale Company of Milwaukee,8 incorporated on Nov. 5, 1880, with a Capital Stock of $12,000. Incorporators were C.F. Heleishenber, Fred Huebner, F.A. Lush, et al. In 1881 T.A. Lusk9 was manager of the Phoenix Scale Co, No. 318 State street, is a native of Marshall, [Michigan]. He came to Milwaukee in 1865. He was engaged as a traveling salesman up to the time the present company was organized, of which he is one of the originators. He was married May 17, 1871, Figure 43: 1881— Milwaukee Industrial Exposition title page (Courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society) Figure 42: 1882—Registration, patent assigned to Phoenix Scale Company [took place 1880/1] Figure 44: 1881—Phoenix ad in catalogue 5058

to Miss Susie Miller, a native of Montreal, Canada, a big hanging and two grocers’ counter scales with daughter of Edward Miller, who was the founder of the dial faces, all without springs. It gives us also further Northwestern Type Foundry of this city. They have two details. The cover lists the officers. (Fig. 46; Fig. daughters–Edith M., age 8, and Effie A., age 4 years. 47) On the inside we can read all the advantages of Phoenix scales: an important factor is that no springs The patent assignment was recorded in the February are used – There is no spring scale in existence which 1882 New Remedies, (Fig. 42) but the actual transfer is entirely correct at all times… – The “No Springs, took place in 1881, just in time for Phoenix to introduce Honest Weight” motto started in 1904 by the Toledo the Pendulum Scale at the 1881 Milwaukee Industrial Exhibition and in the catalog.10 (Fig. 43-45) There Figure 45: 1881—Phoenix listing as exhibitor the scale is praised for having no springs, no weights, and weighing instantly on the dial, true and correct. It informs as well that Phoenix makes scales for butchers, merchants, grocers, confectioners, and postal purposes. The items on display were bracket market, postal bracket, and postal counter scale. An 1881 Phoenix catalog,11 also unearthed, has 20 color pages of a wide variety of 11 pendulum scales plus a platform scale, and Figure 46: 1881—Phoenix Scale Company price list,11 Figure 47: 1881—Phoenix scale advantages – NO SPRINGS title page 5059

Scale Co. to fight for market share. – Phoenix Catalog: and F. Huebner, one of the stockholders.12 The Phoenix “It is a TRULY GOOD scale.” (Fig. 48) The hanging Platform Market Scale (Fig. 54) was the biggest Combined Postal Package and Letter Scale has two surprise of the wide design range. Even this version weight ranges by adding a poise. There is also a version and the large Circular Hanging Market Scale (Fig. 55), on a stand. (Fig. 49) Another Postal Package Scale has for $12.00 with a 13-inch heavy iron pan with patent a fancy bracket with the company name. The Counter white porcelain enamel, have NO SPRINGS. or Standing Family Scale has a weight range from 1 ounce to 10 pounds. (Fig. 50; Fig. 51) Another one What a coincidence, the article was written for the weighs correctly from ½ ounce to 4 pounds. The higher 250th anniversary of P.M. Hahn scales coming on the accuracy in readout is possible through a vernier scale market, just 3 years too late. Philipp Matthaeus Hahn on the pendulum, shown in figure 51. The Counter would be amazed by the wide variety of his multiple or Standing Improved Market or Family Scale has a offspring and his pendulum design’s unexpected round face, standard for household scales. (Fig. 52; revival and success in America, the land of bountiful Fig. 53) The faceplate and frame were designed for a possibilities. The best proof of achievement is in this pleasing look and patented by T.A. Lusk, the manager, case Saxon immigrant Carl Kleinsteuber. Figure 48: 1881—Phoenix with adjustable poise, two graduations Figure 50: 1881—Phoenix standing scale – price $3.00 5060

Figure 51: 1881—Phoenix, vernier scale on pendulum – higher accuracy for readout Figure 49: 1881—Phoenix name on wall bracket Figure 53: 1881—Design patent for circular faceplate Figure 52: 1881—Phoenix with circular faceplate 5061

Figure 54: 1881—Phoenix platform scale – NO SPRINGS Figure 55: 1881—Phoenix typical size market scale – NO SPRINGS References and Endnotes 10. Milwaukee Industrial Exposition Association, Official Catalogue, 1. Susanne Kiefer and Erich Robens, “The Scale Industry of the First Annual Exhibition by the Milwaukee Industrial Exposition, by Association of American manufactures, inventions, arts, and industrial Swabian Alb,” Equilibrium, Issue No. 4, 2011, pp. 3743-44. products, 1881. 2. Leonardo da Vinci, Das Lebensbild eines Genies [The Life of a 11. Illustrated Price List: Phoenix Scale Company, H.H. Zahn & Co. Genius], Emil Vollmer Verlag, Wiesbaden-Berlin, 1975, p. 210. Printers, Milwaukee, 1881. [Milwaukee County Historical Society collection] 3. Johannes Lindner, Eine Studie über die von Johann Heinrich Lambert und John Sebastian Clais erfundenen Neigungswaagen [from the 12. R Hendricks Willard and J H Berning, “US Patents 1881-1882,” pamphlet: Bad Emser Hefte zur Mass- und Gewichtskunde Nr. 45, Equilibrium, Issue No. 2, 2003, p. 2810. Verein für Geschichte / Denkmal und Landschaftspflege E.V. Bad Ems] Also see John S. Clais, EQM pp 4053-4060. 13. Uhrenproduktion in Neustadt im Schwarzwals; Wege aus der Armut, Baden 1. Hälfte 19. Jahrhundert, Rainer Bruening und Peter Exner, 4. Schmidt, Michigan’s Thumb, a Paradise for Saxonia Settlers, LuLu Landesarchiv Baden Württemberg, Generallandarchiv Karlsruhe, Publishing Services, 2019, pp. 9-20. 2007 5. Übersicht der Auszeichnungen; Ausführlicher Bericht über die große 14. C.F. Kleinsteuber Machine Shop, Historic Photo Collection, allgemeine Deutsche Gewerbe-Ausstellung in Berlin im Jahre 1844, Milwaukee Public Library, before 1960 – Historic location: 318 State herausgegeben [publisher] von Amand Ferd. Neukrantz Industrie und St and 4th Street. [Photo circa late 1850s. The shop was founded Handelsblatt, 1844, Allgemeine Preußische Zeitung, 1845. soon after arrival in 1852 and used for the Sholes typewriter development c.1867] 6. Jerome A. Watrous, “Monroe A. Kleinsteuber,” Memoirs of Milwaukee County: From the earliest historical times down to the present, 15. C. Kleinsteuber Machinist and Engraver Shop, Historic Photo including a genealogical and biographical record of representative Collection, Milwaukee Public Library, before 1960 [In the mid-1860s, families in Milwaukee County, 1909. he was allowed to coin pennies during Civil War 1861-1865, 1867 typewriter development. US Census: 1870 machine shop & real 7. First Practical Typewriter, Wisconsin Historical Museum Object – estate value of $5,000] Feature Story 16. A female typist operates a Sholes and Glidden typewriter, Scientific 8. Official Directory of Corporations of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Odell & American, 1872 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sholes_and_Glidden_ Owen, Milwaukee, 1904, Part 4, “General corporations,” pg. 500. typewriter> 9. History of Milwaukee, Wisconsin: From Pre-historic Times to the Present Date,… The Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1881, p. 1298. 5062

A Letter Home . . . By Gregg A. Motter O ver the years much has been written about The Upper Classes sent their sons to be polished the artistry of Sampson Mordan’s scales, and cultivated in Italy, guided by a mature man who e.g., EQM 933-950 and 3293-3305. For was linguistically competent, a guard and tutor. Yes, the most part, these articles neglected the young man would be expected to write home, but Sampson’s creativity and artistry, here reflected in his he would not think of himself as Travelling. He was Travelling Letter Weighers. Collectors of Sampson’s simply doing what was expected of him following scales have known for many years that he and his the footsteps of his father, uncles and older brothers. designers liked variety, but these Travellers draw The English Upper Classes travelled very little. Some attention to their idiosyncratic productions! moved from their town house to their country house to benefit from the season’s attractions. Others visited First, The Words ‘Travelling’ and ‘Traveller’ relatives for weeks on end. Others took the waters in Bath, or Harrogate, to soak in the mineral rich waters. For most people, this simply means going away. The destination was the point, not the travelling. However, in Victorian England (1837-1901) the word had a very specific meaning. In pre-Victorian and pre- Drovers travelled, walking their animals to market. railway days, very few people travelled in England. Geese were walked 100-miles to London. Cattle were Figure 1: Travelling letter weighers were very small scales, about 5-inches in length, as seen in comparison to the apple. These weighers could be carried inside a writing slope that people took with them on an ex- cursion. This example utilizes a steelyard with knob-shaped poise. (Maynards Fine An- tiques in Tiverton, Devon, UK) Figure 2: Mordan named these letter weighers “Traveling Letter Weigher” as shown in the gold lettering that appeared on the top of the box for many of these special weighers. This example has the “travel case” poise, and is similar to Figure 17 that appears later in this article. (Hayden Collection) 5063

Figure 3: Rare set of weights marked in both ounces and Postages. A Postage was ½oz, and the “F” marked weights were ¼oz units used for foreign mail routed via France. Inclusion of a 1½oz weight dates the set to 1865-1871. (Hayden Collection) Figure 4: Roberval weigher with no pre-load on the weight plate. Weights are rectangular in shape from 4oz down to ½oz. Case is red leather with a ribbed red leather lining. Stamped in gold lettering on the base is the name of the stationer, J W Deir & Co, Hyde Park Corner, London. Nearly all these weighers were mounted on a wooden base that was removed from the box by sliding it sideways, and thus revealing the weights stored underneath. (Private Collection) Figure 5: Brass roberval with nickel-plated brass weights that were stored in the base of the box under the scale base. Weights are classic Mordan design with inner raised ring to protect the surface of the weight from wear, and stamping the identification of the mass units above the quantity (oz2 not 2oz). This box was supplied with both English and Metric weights. (Beyreis Collection) walked 300-miles to Smithfield. Sheep were walked themselves Travellers. even further. This was an annual job, done on special But to be called a Traveller was much more wide, grassy drovers’ roads, with regular stops at hostelries along the way or barns owned by friendly nuanced. That had subtle, very English, implications. farmers. The drovers were away for long periods but If you were Upper Class, you would be insulted to be they were nearly all illiterate. called a Traveller — not because you were travelling, but because it meant somebody thought you were People who emigrated were brave, but ignorant of just learning to travel. You would hope, expect, to be what was coming. Again, not thinking of themselves as called an adventurer, somebody studying the Classics, Travellers, but as heroes, or as victims. A letter home could take up to 6-months, so communication was rare and patchy. The last group who travelled were poor country people forced to move into towns to find work. Having lived by the sun, and having arranged their own working schedule, they suffered living in slums, bullied by the clock, and terrified of the Master and remaining indoors all day. They had travelled, but would not call 5064

a botanist, an archaeologist or a pilgrim — anything to book a Holiday with Thomas Cook, and even then, do with your aims, not how you got there. they probably would only admit to using Thomas Cook because they didn’t speak Turkish or Mandarin. If from a Lower Class, a tradesman, a minor To anybody living in another country (apart from the merchant, or a person earning their money by working British Colonies) such divisions seem ludicrous, but at hard manufacturing, and had never been far from they were, and still are to some extent, very real. It home, then to be called a Traveller would be a survives as judgement by how a person speaks (Queen’s matter of pride. These were the people that Thomas English, received English, dialect or sloppy), how they Cook inspired. The Upper Classes would not want hold their cutlery, what they will mention in public. to be associating with such people. It took about Just going to the loo (Upper Class). Just going to see 80-years before the Upper Classes would deign to Figure 6: This letter weigher is a bit larger than most at 7-inches in length, with a beam graduated ½ to 4oz. The interesting feature of this weigher are the pockets in the lid for postage stamps in d (pennies). Stamp denominations, especially the “½”, help date the Traveller and box to the period 1871-1915. The left end of the box shows the block inserted to prevent the scale from rattling when packed away. Notice the two mounting holes in the base. This weigher was also sold mounted onto a piece of wood for desk use. (Hayden Collection) Figure 7: Fold-out steelyard style weigher with a ‘travelling trunk’ shaped poise. The beam is prevented from dropping too far by having a small support under it next to the pillar. This is an example of the lightest, and most compact, design since it has no weights. (Hayden Collection) Figure 8: Roberval weigher with a ½oz pre-load on the weight plate for a quick letter weight check for the Penny Post. The pre-load is the reason the weigher appears not balanced properly. If the letter did not tip the beam, it cost one penny to send. This weigher had fold-over ‘wings’ on the letter plate to make it compact for transport. (Motter Collection) 5065

Figure 9a & 9b: Roberval letter weigher with a ½oz pre-load on the weight plate. Five weights in all: 1½oz 3P, 1oz 2P, ½oz 1P, and two ¼oz F. As the weight was put on in addition to the pre-load of ½oz, the cost of postage was the next rate up from what was stamped on the weight. So put the 1½oz weight on, making a total load of 2oz and the postage was 4 pennies, which is what it said on the paper label, applied after 1871. If the weights had been used with a scale not pre-loaded, then the rates were correct the weights during 1865-1871. Retailed by Carlisle & Watts, 48 Hanover St, Edinburgh, which was a very posh shopping district. The handwritten notes inside the weight case makes this a very special piece. (Private Collection) a man about a dog (Lower Class). How far ahead they trips outside England to Scotland, a country that plan. We put our boy down to go to Eton the day he captivated Cook. For many of his early passengers, was born (Upper Class, yearning for a place at the this was their first time aboard a train, and the farthest most expensive, exclusive school in the country). they had ever been from home. Let’s spend the windfall on a Holiday (Lower Class). Money, jewelry, car, or designer clothes were not, and His early tours were marketed towards the working are not, used to decide what a new-comer is going to be class, but later his company would go on to escort more like. So, at last, we need to think about who would be middle-class passengers and even organize travel for delighted to be called a Traveller in Victorian England. royalty, the military, and other important figures given Think Thomas Cook. his increasing reputation to efficiently organize travel. Thomas Cook (1808-1892) Figure 10: Many of the early railway carriages were con- structed like road coaches mounted on train wheels, and Thomas Cook was a very devout Baptist and even had a high seat at the back for a guard. passionate man born into a world where most working-class people labored long 6-day weeks, and never travelled more than 20-miles from their home towns. Thomas began work at age 10 for a penny per day. He started his travel business very humbly by transporting people to nearby Temperance meetings for about 10-years. Cook organized his first for-profit railway excursion in 1845, and the next year began offering 5066

Figure 11: This weigher is interesting since it was produced with both English weights for domestic use as well as letters to the Continent. Seven weights in all: 1½, 1, ⅔, ½, ⅓, & two ¼oz. (Hayden Collection) Figure 12: Mordan was the only scale-maker that developed what we now call the ‘chrome look’ us- ing a polished nickel-plating over brass long be- fore the invention of chrome. This weigher utilizes a stacking set of weights F to 2oz, that is held in place by rotating the letter plate 90-degrees prior to placing the weigher in the made-up-box. The top knob weight was used for letters to the Continent. (Private Collection) Figure 13: Roberval with a round weight plate and no pre-loading. The weights are rectangular from 7½ to 30 grammes. Note the 7½, 15 and 22½ grammes weights were used on letters going to, or through, France from 1856 onwards. An 1895 reference by Baedeker advised travellers that a letter in France of 15g would cost 15 cents. Germans needed a 15g weight between 1871 and 1900. The Dutch needed the 15g weight 1871-1908. After 1900 there was a demand for 20g weights. (Schoenly Collection) Thomas’ trips kept getting bigger, and in 1851 he wrote: the difficulties…were neither few nor small. he organized railway travel and accommodation to In making arrangements we had a hard fight with London for the Great Exhibition orchestrated by Prince Continental Companies; and it required unceasing Albert. Cook transported over 150,000 people during vigilance to keep on the good side of hotel keepers, this 6-month event! This Exhibition was one of the money changers, booking clerks, and others with whom largest events ever held in England, one of the largest we had pecuniary transactions. The fluctuating rates movements of people within Britain, and enticed of currencies; the wretched and uneven appearance 6,000,000 people to the Exhibition. of coins and notes; …all these monetary perplexities caused continued annoyance to most of the Parties… Next, in 1855, Thomas extended his business to non- English-speaking countries, and went to France and Interestingly, a large percentage of Cook’s Travellers Belgium. Unfamiliar with the languages and customs, were single or unescorted women who likely would not 5067

have been able to travel on their own (remember these the accommodations expected as a working-class or were the days of Gone with the Wind), but being part middle-class traveller. of an escorted tour provided them with both protection During Thomas’s life so much changed to make and independence. travel faster, cheaper, and more comfortable than ever Cook rapidly expanded operations by escorting before. Improvements in the postal service, use of the tours throughout Europe, North steam engine, opening of the Suez America, and led the first commer- To Travel is to feed the mind, Canal, and the great expansion of cial tour around the world. No des- humanize the soul, and rub off the railways made it possible for tination was more sacred to Thom- the rust of circumstance…..To Thomas to accomplish things that as than his tours to Egypt and the Travel is to have Nature’s plan would not have been possible a Middle East. Here Thomas’ cus- generation before him.  tomers could witness firsthand the and her high works simplified….. The demand for discounted Biblical lands he had read, and To Travel is to dispel the mists of organized travel continued to preached about, all his life. In the fable and clear the mind…. increase. The number of travellers years 1852-1882, the demand for from London who crossed the travelling trunks tripled, and with Thomas Cook, July 1854 Channel to Europe rose from it, demand for Traveller Letter 165,000 in 1850 to 951,000 in 1899. Weighers and writing slopes! Travel agencies and organized travel were here to stay.  Thomas worked during the reign of Queen Although not the first to come up with most of the Victoria, the Victorian era. Romantic imaginings of ideas, Thomas made things like travel vouchers, Trav- spending time aboard the famous Orient Express, eler’s Cheques, and printed guidebooks common and sailing on the luxurious White Star Line, and staying widespread. As a printer he used his talents to print in grand palatial hotels may have been partially true travel advertisements, bulletins, magazines, guide- for the wealthiest of travellers. These were far from books, and train timetables. In fact, Thomas Cook Figure 14: Letter weigher and stacking weights placed in Figure 15: Roberval weigher with round weight and letter made-up-box with black leather cover and dark royal blue plates. Weights are round with an inset groove around the velvet lining. The letter plate has been rotated 90-degrees to knobs. Fulcrum made with steel bearing, but the beam ends allow positioning a letter without removing the scale from the without steel bearings. (Private Collection) box, and revealing the weights that are stored trapped under the letter plate. In this example, Mordan textured the letter plate with a cross-hatch pattern and used a round weight plate with no pre-load. The weights were F, ⅓oz (for sending abroad), P for a ¼oz, 1P for a ½oz letter and 2P for a 1oz letter. Since the scale was made with Postage weights, it was made before 1871. (Private Collection) 5068

Continental Timetables were published from 1873 to or smooth, design of the weight plate – pre-loaded or 2013, and were for many decades considered the bible not pre-loaded, graduation of the beam – one-sided for for European train Travel. The Thomas Cook & Son weight only or two-sided for postage due on the back, name continued into the 1920s when Thomas Cook’s and lastly metals of construction – brass, nickel-plated grandsons, Frank and Ernest, sold the company, and brass, and nickel coated with a gold lacquer. then went bankrupt in 2019 after 178-years. Mordan’s designers were amazingly prolific in With all this enthusiasm and delight, travellers wanted the variations they created for these scales. When one to tell the people left at home (poor deprived people) takes into consideration all their other postal scales, about their experiences. Who knew when they would they designed thousands of variations, so their sales be travelling near a Post Office? Better to be prepared! representatives could offer new designs every year. When they packed their clothes, they added pen, ink, paper, stamps if they were staying in Great Britain, and Mordan Travelling Letter Weighers were retailed essentially, their new Travelling Letter Weigher. by fine stationers such as J W Deir, Hyde Park Corner, London; Carlisle & Watts, 48 Hanover St, Edinburgh; S Mordan & Company and W&J Milne, 126 Princes St, Edinburgh, who also sold Narcissé Briais postal scales. Princes Street was, It appears the designers at S Mordan & Co. in London and still is, the main and poshest shopping area of saw the market for Travelling Letter Scales by about Edinburgh. Given the variety illustrated around this 1865. These letter weighers were generally 5-inches article, one wonders how many other variations were in length by 2-inches wide and high. The artistry and made and remain undiscovered. creativity variables include: weigher design – steelyard or roberval, color and texture of the leather covering and Acknowledgements lining of the made-up-boxes, weights – shape and mass, • Diana Crawforth-Hitchins for her research, historical poise shape, design and texture of the rectangular letter plate – swivel 90-degrees, fold-out wings, engraved insights, sharing of English traditions, and scale photography. • Kurt Beyreis, Carol Hayden, Mary & the late Jerry Katz, and Don Schoenly for their photography and research. Figure 16: Array of leather colors including maroon, red, black, blue-green, grey, and blue (not in picture) along with an array of textures. Travelling letter weighers were produced in numerous sizes as evidenced by the different length and case shapes. (Private Collection) Figure 17: Steelyard letter weigher with a ‘travel case’ shaped poise. This weigher has postage graduations on the front side of the beam, and weight graduations on the back side of the beam, not shown in picture. Made without bearings, so the steel pippins rub on the brass. (Motter Collection) 5069

A Roman Scale Love Poem Manuel Jaén Peña1 is a master craftsman the trade of his father Manuel Jaén, and knowing that of Roman scales2 in Salamanca, Spain. my great-grandfather’s father, Pascual Jaén, already Mr. Peña explains the deep tradition and forged Roman. We go back at least five generations.” legacy behind his work in an interview with La Gaceta Salemanca,3 “It is possible that I am He not only builds Romans from forge (Figure 4) us- the last active romanero in Spain. With my ability I try ing traditional tools and methods, but also shows his love to penetrate our accelerated time, for the pleasure of a of the craft by reconditioning old scales and demonstrat- job well done, precise, with my hands educated in the ing their production and use at craft fairs and schools. trade that my father Gabriel (Figure 3) and my uncle (Figures 5 & 6) Rafael Jaén Jiménez taught me, who in turn learned He is also a poet. The following poem relates a Ro- man Scale (Figures 1 & 2) to human glances: Spanish English La balanza romana que me sirvió The Roman scale that helped para pesar tu mirada: me to weigh your gaze: Mis ganas de mirarte. My desire to look at you. A distancias proporcionales De los instantes de nuestros silencios At proportional distances La fuerza de la gravedad From the instants of our silences. De la luz de tus ojos The force of gravity Es igual a la fuerza From the light of your eyes De mi resistencia a dejar de mirarte. It is equal to the strength En ese equilibrio Of my resistance to stop looking at you. De nuestras miradas Se lee el peso de tu mirada In that balance Puesta en mis ojos. From our looks Jaén. The weight of your gaze is read Placed in my eyes. Jaén. Figure 1: A Roman scale balanced during testing. Figure 2: the working parts of a Roman balance. 5070

Figure 3: Manuel Jaén Peña’s father Gabriel producing a Figure 3: Heating metal for the forging process Roman scale Figure 4 & 5: Manuel Jaén Peña demonstrating a Roman scale to children.4 End Notes and References 3. www.lagacetadesalamanca.es/provincia/el-ultimo-ro- 1. www.balanzasromanas.com manero-de-espana-mantiene-vivo-el-oficio-en-su-taller- de-salamanca-KH7494628 2. Roman balances are called Steelyard scales or Steel- yards in the United States and England and Stadera in 4. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5H7UwsYTU Italy. 5071

Notes & Queries No. 164 TB Stamped on Brass Bell Weights Who was TB? Where were they located? Seller or maker? The font of the stamping is not always the same, but HOOD; and J BELCHER. I don’t believe any brass the shape of the weights is consistent. From their shape weights, other than the simplistic square weights I think they may be from the late 19th century or early were manufactured in Australia, although there are 20th century. examples of Australian cast iron makers with names cast into the weight (BOWREY from the 19th century I have not seen this stamp on weights other than and MERCURY and SASCo from the 20th century). weights here in Australia. I have searched international references as can be found on the internet, as well as It has been suggested to me that TB may be Toledo EQM index and old issues. So far no light has been Berkel, but this company name was not registered in shed on the identity of TB. Australia until the late 1920s and I suspect the weights with TB stamped on them are from an earlier date. In Australia there seems to have been a practice of sellers of weighing machines and brass weights to I am hoping that someone from within ISASC may stamp their name or business name on the weighing be able to shed light on who TB was and whether any machines or weights that they sold. I assume it was a examples of TB weights exist in USA, UK, Europe or way of advertising their business. Other names seen elsewhere. If nothing else it may confirm that TB is an stamped on brass bell weights, cup weights, flat weights Australian seller’s marking. and simplistic square weights include J COLE; JOHN COLE; J T COLE (son of JOHN); E DARK & CO; Any additional information or suggestions will be STOKES & BUTCHER; WILLIS & Co; MAPPIN; gratefully received by: Mal Campbell (camwens@bigpond.net.au ) 5072