Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-05-23
no1, a,,,,,,,p BALANCES

We are indebted 10 the Postmaster GENERA w
the following report Of the commil.ee, "nien "a
hasten to Law before the public We sa.,sS ~,
that the "Roman balance" has oeen auJf ~, ,bs
the Postmaster General, as recoun1n.e ~ ,he
committee, with which the ialsei In ono u,;ll
United States will be snPpiieu en. -, s,nr,;aj
cosl ri "a The smaller offices will he supplieu
| in some cheaner mode. The terms Oh ,he con-
tract are agreed mon, and will be completed on
Monday: X 1913
The undersigned committee, 10 whom mas pe -
referred hv The honorable Postmaster Genera liie
models al letter balances, offered Tor me coh'Iacl
under his advertisement TO supply loooV ior IN. h
use of the post offices of The Y. o'a'eS' hd'e '''
honor TO report, that "a, srec;mens snb.
mi,ted we are necessarily res,lic'ea ~ wy
deraton OF them as samples o. 'He 10" ""'~'''S
10 be furnished. oo,,o or which
are admirably constructed on that prlncipie' Du'
ue consider hem liable 10 these objections: Isl.
The want ot The REQUISITE senslbillty 10 lrac-
iona, WEIGHT over or under, the hali-ounce d.
v;s;ons Of weight. ID. The want OF distinct
ness in the ready indication TO Inc eye u me va
r;,,ions ri weigh, on the graduated scale, ana
their CONSEQUENT liability 10 error anu 'u W. lne
mosl OF ,hem) The great want Of correctness i'o''
| friction. 49, 5,,,,,, Lo,oo,es
We find % "bcnt-ltrsr" Cor pendu,ua) ea1aaees
asn;ns They are all Of them liable 10 these OBJ
sssc,;on.. Isl, Too great oscillation or vibration,
Ia re.dy mo-. and "a. where The attempt is made
n remedy thai objection, il is al The expense OF
a.cnracv and disiincness 10 the eve OF the raria-
lions OF weight. :.
o,ocb,d ,rrjohts of sixteen half ounces. They are
Liable 10 these objections: Isl The liability TO er-
ror from friction, or The change OF position OF lhe
weights, in their use; and 3D. the want of scnsihll
liz for The ready indication 10 The eye OF fractional
variations of weight.
There are 5 models Of balances which require
The use of huds-percury, spirits and water
which we find objeclional on account OF their
want OF sensireness and their liability 10 acct
dent.
We are OF the opinion that the common bal
ance. called the "IomQn baiance," is the best adap-
led 10 the particular purpose and service IN view
Among the number of samples" which We find
constructed on This principle, the one which we
think most eligible, is that marked No. ~, IS.
II. DAVIS having single sliding weight (nol
suspended) on brass BEAM turning on hardened
nonts. The weight falling into hall-ounce notches,
with an open scale (or dish) above. We suggest
lha, The figures, 10 indicate The ounces and half
ounces, should be made larger and palmer on The
beam. Of,he other eligible models on this rrin.
chile, the next, in our estimation, is marked No.
sS[Fairbank's paiengl 10 which may be added
No 8, Benjamin Morrison, both OF which seem
unwieIly; and in the latter the adjusting weigh,
al the end OF the beam is Objectionable for the ser
vice in view.
We also consider the common balance, called
The strip xaies," with weights and open scales on
TOP, as eligible; and The best sample OF these, in
our estimation, is that marked No. T. ~. B. Hart
well;l second, No. 4G, Livingston, Rogsen u
Co. and third, No. AZ, Farmer & Cushingl
though unwieldy.
Respectfully submitted,
c. X. GARDNER,
p. NJ of Washington, D. c.
DAN. BRYAN
p. M Of Alexandria, d. {.
H. w. TILLEY,
P. NJ Georgetown, d. c.
JAMES SAXTON,
Assist Weigher and Meas.
CHARLES G. PAGE,
Examiner OF Patents.
LETTER BALaNcEs--There was clerical error
in the statement furnished Us OF The price al which
these balances were 10 be supplied 10 The depart
ment. Three thousand Of them, for the larger
offices, are 10 be at higher rate than that stated,
The remainder at much lower rate Ln'0n.