This set of scales is complete with beam, both pans with intact suspension cords, and three weights. The set-up is housed in cardboard box with a brown leatherette top having red borders and a blindstamped American eagle in gold, and an open interior with one corner divided off for the small weights. The box is solid and displays well, with just some wear and chipping to the two red edges of the top and bottom that overhang the body and form a rim.

These scales had their origin as apothecary scales, but with the discovery of gold in California business really took off and it would require quite a pessimist to not equip himself from the outset of his journey west with one of these to calculate his expected new wealth. This would look great displayed with a pepperbox revolver, a ‘49er daguerreotype, newspaper advertisements for looking for adventurers to pool their resources for the journey, or notices of ships departing for Panama and points west. The eagle motif on the top is a nice bit of patriotic encouragement for the venture and the box as a whole is similar to those used for some pistols in the period.    [sr] [ph:m]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.