Hay Scale? (It's made of metal!)

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Hay Scale? (It's made of metal!) Joe 04-17-2008
Posted by Joe on April 17, 2008, 11:40 am
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I just bought what I've always called a "hay scale". It's just a
balance beam with a top hook for hanging from wherever, and a bottom
hook for the load. The beam is brass, with a sliding counterweight,
and there are 2 extra weights (iron) for increasing the capacity.
(metal content)

When the counterweight is set to 0, the scale still acts as though
there needs to be more weight attached to the "load" hook. I guess
there was some sort of device added, but I dont know what (if it truly
was a hay scale, I doubt that there would be a pan). The needed extra
weight seems to be on the order of 5 - 10 lbs.

Anyway, I tried searching for information about these things, but got
mostly pay-scale nonsense. Anybody have any links for scale
collectors, or whatever. I have accumulated quite a collection of
various scales and balances, from a lab "chain weight" analytical
balance (measures as little as 0.01 mg), to a Fairbanks-Morse platform
balance that can handle up to 1000 lbs. This is my first foray into
the free-hanging scales, though.

Thanks,
Joe

Posted by Lloyd E. Sponenburgh on April 17, 2008, 11:42 am
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> When the counterweight is set to 0, the scale still acts as though
> there needs to be more weight attached to the "load" hook. I guess
> there was some sort of device added, but I dont know what (if it truly
> was a hay scale, I doubt that there would be a pan). The needed extra
> weight seems to be on the order of 5 - 10 lbs.

It might require a chain-hung pan. It could have been a merchant's scale
for weighing things like nails.

Pictures? Weight range without counterweights?

LLoyd



Posted by Paul K. Dickman on April 17, 2008, 12:32 pm
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It is probably a cotton scale.

I was told that it was common to have two sets of counterweights. One for
buying and one for selling.

It looks like you got the buying weight.

Paul K. Dickman

>I just bought what I've always called a "hay scale". It's just a
> balance beam with a top hook for hanging from wherever, and a bottom
> hook for the load. The beam is brass, with a sliding counterweight,
> and there are 2 extra weights (iron) for increasing the capacity.
> (metal content)
>
> When the counterweight is set to 0, the scale still acts as though
> there needs to be more weight attached to the "load" hook. I guess
> there was some sort of device added, but I dont know what (if it truly
> was a hay scale, I doubt that there would be a pan). The needed extra
> weight seems to be on the order of 5 - 10 lbs.
>
> Anyway, I tried searching for information about these things, but got
> mostly pay-scale nonsense. Anybody have any links for scale
> collectors, or whatever. I have accumulated quite a collection of
> various scales and balances, from a lab "chain weight" analytical
> balance (measures as little as 0.01 mg), to a Fairbanks-Morse platform
> balance that can handle up to 1000 lbs. This is my first foray into
> the free-hanging scales, though.
>
> Thanks,
> Joe



Posted by Leo Lichtman on April 17, 2008, 12:46 pm
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"Joe" wrote: I just bought what I've always called a "hay scale". (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It sounds like a steelyard scale (pronounced stilyerd.) I have one hanging
in the living room with a pan, holding some plants. It is constructed so
the beam can be inverted to bring different hooks into play, changing the
ratio. Yours most likely has a pan missing. You could make one or find one
from an old grocery scale. You will have to tinker with the weight, of
course, if you want it to work.



Posted by Lew Hartswick on April 17, 2008, 10:31 pm
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Leo Lichtman wrote:
> "Joe" wrote: I just bought what I've always called a "hay scale". (clip)
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> It sounds like a steelyard scale (pronounced stilyerd.) I have one hanging
> in the living room with a pan, holding some plants. It is constructed so
> the beam can be inverted to bring different hooks into play, changing the
> ratio. Yours most likely has a pan missing. You could make one or find one
> from an old grocery scale. You will have to tinker with the weight, of
> course, if you want it to work.
>
>
Yep the one I've used was about 3 ft long and we were using it to
weigh quarters of a beef in the butchering. The quarter were going
in the range of 200+ lbs (for all metric folks I havent any idea
how many Kilos that is :-) ) Havent been doing any butchering for
about 20 yrs now. The business end had a big hook to hang the
quarter on.
...lew...

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