Discovering the art and history of vintage tools

Postal scale

Appearing in ancient times, mechanical scales met a universal need: to measure accurately. Made of sturdy materials such as brass or iron, they combined solidity and meticulousness. With the arrival of electronic scales in the 20th century, these instruments lost their main function, but their timeless charm continues to captivate history and craftsmanship enthusiasts.

Types of antique scales: between tradition and innovation
Equal-arm scales: the timeless pioneers
These models, based on the lever principle, are based on remarkable simplicity. A balanced beam and weights carefully added until equilibrium was reached were enough to guarantee impressive precision.
Fun Fact: Archimedes is said to have used similar scales to calculate the density of metals with legendary precision.

Currency Scales: The Merchant’s Tool

Portable and often stored in luxurious cases, these scales were used to check the weight of coins. They played a crucial role in trade at a time when the accuracy of transactions depended on the precision of weight.