Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-06-19

FAIRBANKS SCALES.

We published some time ago an account
of the Weigh Lock Scale at Albany, con-
structed by the Messrs. Fairbanks of St.
Johnsbury. We understand that several
other Scales Of the same kind are to be
furnished by them this season for New York
and Ohio.
The skill Of the Messrs. Fairbanks has
been tested at New Orleans with another
kind Of Scale. A dormant platform Scale
for the use Of the Branch Mint, was CON
tracied for, of the capacity of 5000 Troy
ounces, and not to vary from the standard
in greater ratio than one ounce in 30 900.
The following certificate shows the result
UNITED STATES BRANCH MINT,
INV ORLEANS, March p, 1851.
MrssRs f. s. Il. FAIRBANKS & Co,
Conference.-The have received and put
up the Platform Scales, sent US 10y order OF
Mr. Brooks, late Conner, at the Branch
( Mint IN this phase, and after having sublec-
ted them to repeated tests, take pleasure
IN stating that | find them very accurate,
much more so than | had anticipated pre-
vious to trial Considering their capacity
aud SIZE | am of opinion that they are more
delicate and perfect than any scales have
ever seen, and have every confidence that
they will prove fully adequate TO perform
what You designed they should.
Having placed upon the platform one
thousand ounces, (Troy,) standard weights,
aud nineteen thousand ounces, (Troy,) the
weight ascertained by the Treasurer's bal
ance, ! found a deviation from the aggre-
gate weight 100000 ounces) of twenty.
/ hundredths of an ounce.
/ | made the experiment of placing upon
the platform one thousand ounces, standard
weights, and ionnd the Scales to indicate
that weight as nearly as ii was possible for
me to Judge.
/ then placed one hundred ounces, stand
ard weights, upon the balance, IN addition
to the one thousand ounces, aud found the
Scale to indicate accurately and so on up
to two thousand ounces, by augmenting the
weights one hundred ounces each time.
| therefore consider that the contract, on
your part, has been complied with.
Verv respectfully,
A. DEyAL, Conner 4. = B. Mint
The Messrs. Fairbanks state, and doubt
less correctly, that there is no compound
balance Of equal capacity in any part of the
world, which will sustain such test. Yet
their ponderous Weigh Lock Scales are e.
qualIy accurate.
The improvement made by the Messrs
F. in Weigh Lock Scales for canals was
referred for examination, last winter, to the
Committee on Science aud the Arts, of the
Franklin Institute, Philadelphia. The re-
port of that committee embraces a minute
description of the Scales, and statement
of its advantages, including accuracy anC
rapidity in determining the weight, and du'
rabilily, and concludes as follows:
" In conclusion, the Committee were sat
ished, by their own observation and the tes-
timony Of those who had the apparatus II
daily and continual use, of the greatly IN
creased efficiency Of the Weigh Lock Scale
of the Messrs Fairbanks & CO. aud the
believe the greater part of the arrangement
TO be new.
They therefore report 1t to be worthy o
appreciation, and recommend its general a
doption."
Such results are attained only by the I'M
ion of mechanical genius with science anC
long experience Attempts have been made
we have heard, to work after the ST. Johns
bury patterns; but it is found that the artl
Giles turned out are very far from being Sc
perfect and reliable.
In addition to their other advantages Tho
Messrs. Fairbanks have recently avalle'
themselves of the exclusive right to us
Plerce's Patent Steel-edge Guards. an nm
porlant protection from wear and friction
and keeping the Scale as sensitive IN It's Vi
+ brallons after years OF constant use as a
first This improvement Is invaluable II
the construction of all the common modIh
cations and sizes of Scales
1t is impossible TO estimate the bench
derived by the community from the inventive
genius employed in the works at ST. Johns
bury, and the perfectly reliable character {
the articles furnished by that establishment
"A false balance is an abomlnallon to th'
Lord but Just weight is his delight" =
Chronicle.