On Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:38:55 -0400, Gerald Miller wrote:

On Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:24:14 -0400, Leon Fisk
wrote:

On Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:38:28 -0400, Gerald Miller
wrote:

If this were the case, then the upward loop to the left of the sliding
weight would not be there, this would be the place where the knife
edges would rest on the bearings of the scale.

I was thinking that too until I looked at the patent I
referenced. It has the same loop and yet shows a stand
holding it. McFarlane had several similar patents from this
same time period, all for their dial indicator and beam. One
of the other patent drawings used a hook that held the beam
loop up.

I realize that this could have been a drawing error, but
would rather believe the draftsman just copied something
that was already in existence that they had on hand (shrug).

See this patent for one that they represented using a hook
to grab the loop:

http://www.google.com/patents?vid=1072018
Now, that is a different configuration

I couldn't find any good images/diagrams that showed how the
beam was implemented in old platform scales...

snip
The additional weights may be marked "50" and "100" which would extend
the capacity to 200 pounds.

The loops are around 5/16-3/8 inch in diameter and so are
the knife edge pins. Seems like pretty stout stuff for just
50 pound capacity.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

Wow! Thanks to both of you guys for your comments. Leon, I noticed in the 2nd
patent drawing that there appears to be both a hanging loop and a pillar; seems
a bit redundant. Maybe the pillar is supporting the hanging hook. I'll have to
read the full application later to see if this is explained. Also, you are
correct that the loops are 3/8" dia.

My wife is going back to the flea market tomorrow (it's only open on Wednesdays)
I'm asking her to be on the lookout for the other beam the guy had, which I
think goes with the 2 weights. The undersides of the hooks for those weights
come to a knife edge, and I believe they hung from the notches on the beam of
the other scale. It looked like what around here is called a tobacco scale.
Maybe I'll luck out.

Again, thanks to all who offered help.

Joe