The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-19
The Improved Howe Scales.

We notice that Mr.. L. X. Bowdish,
travelling agent for Messrs. A. NJ. Gil :.
bert & Co., Chicago, principals Of the
Western Department Of the Brandon
Manufacturing Co., Of Vermont, for the
manufacture of the Improved Howe
Scales, has placed a track platform scale
of that make in the warehouse of Mar
shall & Co., in this city, which attracts
very general admiration because of ite
beauty Of finish, accuracy, and extreme
sensitiveness. A pocket knife weighing
one ounce, laid upon the platform
brought the beam up readily, and a ten
cent scrip note upon the weight holder
at the end of the beam was sufficient to
keep it down when evenly balanced.
1t must be remembered that the scales
were Of capacity to weigh $500 lbs., in
order that the exactness and mobility
Of the balance which can be affected
by such light articles may be properly
appreciated, and we do not believe
there is another pattern of scales in ex-
istence which will weigh as closely.
The mechanism OF these scales is diff
ferent and, in our opinion, very superior
to that Of the Fairbank scales. Instead
of 10 pivots or bearings, these have only
Ii, and instead IF the check.rods of the
latter, which tend to cramp the move
ments Of the machinery and prevent
elasticity, the bed of the Howe is kept in
place by chilled iron balls and adjustable
bearings. The result is that any weight
placed upon the platform is Immediately
equalized upon all portions of the scales.
The Howe scales have taken the first
premiums at all fairs when they have
come in competition with those of other
makes; the Fairbanks, in every instance,
being adjudged inferior and the manu.
facturers Of the Howe, The Brandon
Manufacturing Co., of Vt. have stand
ing challenge to the. Fairbanks Com
pany, Offering to give up their seven
gold medals to the latter, if they fail
to prove the superiority of the Howe
over the Fairbanks in impartial public
test. The Fairbanks Company do not
accept this challenge, although their
agents are in the habit of claiming for
their scales that they are the United
States legal standard; claim which
is obviously false, as scales are merely
balances, and there can be no such thing
as STANDARD balance. The govern
ment has standard weights and meas
ures, but no standard balances.
Besides the scale in Marshall e. Co.'S
warehouse, the Howe Co. have similar
scale in the Red Wing Mills, which
gives entire satisfaction; and we are
told that the Messrs. Sheldon have two
or three of the old unimproved Howe
pattern, which have been in use from
twelve to sixteen years, and that al
though they have been abused and rough.
" handled, they are still good and cor
rect. Mr.. r.. ; NJ. Flautt, late of st.
Paul, but now of the Memphis stock
yard writes Of the Howe scales as fol-
lows: -. 9..,:.f., , =. =; .gG.,,,> I'D
ttGents:-I have used your scales for
several months aud they have given en-
tire satisfaction: Since I rented my
yard to Mr.. Hankey he has written TO-
me that they are the best he has ever
used.'' .,.ttj .3!asu, 14pL "oI. :GFA 4l31I
70 Messrs.i Ridwellr& Co., butchers, Of
Minneapolis writes as follows: !; under