On Apr 17, 9:40*am, Joe wrote:
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

Search on "steelyard" and see what you find. Platform scales have
mostly taken over what they used to use the steelyards for, they take
less skill to use. It needs an overhead support to use, a barn or
shop rafter was commonly used. The load end used whatever was needed,
chain with a pan, chain with hook or hooks, whatever. Probably that
has been salvaged. Usually the beam was iron or steel and the one I
have is about 3' long, hence "steelyard", or so I've been told. It
was cheap, portable and gave results accurate enough for the purposes
for which it was used.

Stan