These old balance-type scales are the weighing scales I used to see (and use at my mom's small grocery store) when I was a child. They are still very much in use in most traditional markets here, but I don't see them much anywhere else. Modern markets and supermarkets prefer to use electronic strain gauge scales because they are considered more accurate although, scientifically speaking, balance-type scales are actually more accurate because they are not affected by local gravitational force and/or temperature which can affect the spring type of scale, of which strain gauce scales are part. The cylindrical brass in the foreground of the picture, by the way, is called the masses. Here, their measurement is marked in kilogram scales: half an ounce (50 grams), an ounce (100 grams), a quarter of a kilogram (250 grams), a half a kilogram (500 grams), and a kilogram (1000 grams).
5 comments:
Its all we have here in Egypt, mostly avery scales,
shows how past its sell by date egypt is,
Back to say that I like your new blog look!
Oh, I didn't know that the modern scales were effected also by weather! I bought a pair of old fashioned copper scales on one of our vacations, because they intrigue me (and it's a conversational piece, especially with kids!)
How interesting that the old-style scales are actually more accurate!
They look so colorful and clean and well-kept.
I remember when only such balance scales were used in the markets of Israel. At least you could see with your own eyes how much the cucumbers weighed. Today the sellers just punch in some price in the digital scales and TELL you how much you owe them.
Thanks for the info about the relative accuracy.
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