Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-14

silver equal to the shekel weight, be.
Ing about one ounce ,avoirdupois
The Greek talanton. literally meant
the weighing device and the thing
weighed. but its derivative, the tai
ant. finally became q coin.
The ancient mural drawings show
the balance instrument as having a
pois weight made to resemble the
head OF an OK. This 10 traceable as
being the OK value unit, In primitive
times the worth Of I csw or OK be.
ing an established value as a unit
OF trade. The OK unit (Homeric)
has been determined a. being equal
to the value of one hundred and
thirty-hve grains Of gold.
Probably the most closely defined
ancient weight Is what is known as
the Babylonian NINA, discovered by
Petrice, and now in the British Mu-
scum. This weight is of stone,
swe ighing 15.O07.6 grains, and bears
the following inscription: Zone
Manch, standard weight, the prop
erty Of Meridach-sar I lami, and du-
plicate Of the weight which Nebu-
chadnezzer, King of Babylon. made
in exact accordance with the deified
weight of Dungi. former King"
Ancient Babylonian weights OF
stone and bronze cut to, resemble
ducks and lions have been found,
and Layard found. one which bears
the inscriptions: 1.-The palace of Irta
Merodach, King of Babylon, 30
Manchs." This dates around 1880
B. c. Students Of the subject are
not decided whether the balance Is
Of Babylonian or Egyptian origin.
However ancient the balance and
various weights used with 1t may be,
It II reasonable to imagine that
primitive man must have had a
sense OF ownership of property and
determination of quantity long he
fore his inventive genius developed
enough to use even the simplest
form Of the balance. At first it may
have been the use of his hands held
scoop shaped to measure out
quantity of stones. shells or what
ever may have been attractive TO
him as ornaments; or it may have
been quantity of grain or other
edible.
Thus it Is logical to assume that
the measuring operation to deter
mine quantity must have been used
before the operation OF weighing.
and 1t certainly antedates the use of
lineal measurement, because mans
first sense of possession must have
been coupled with the necessity of
food and things easily transported.
rather than the idea of area or land
ownership.
A-standard set of weight and
standards was placed in the
temple by order of Moses. They
were kept under seal by the priests,
and all other weights and measures
in use were made to conform with
these sacred standards by law.
Under the Romans the subject OF
weights and measures was we'll de-
fined. and indeed 10 has been said
that the citizens Of Rome had a bet
ter administered system OF weights
and measures supervision than is to
be found today in many countries.
1t was the Romans, so far as known.
who perfected the unequal arm bal
ance as typified by forms of the
steelyafd found in the ruins of Pom
peii.
The subject was not disregarded
IN Anglo Saxon times. and finally in
Act 81 of King Henry III. 1865 A. D..
we find the following: by consent
Of the whole realm Of England: an
English penny called sterling.
round, and without any clipping.
shall weigh thirty-two wheat grains
In the midst OF the tar: a twenty
pence do make an ounce and twelve
ounces one pound. and eight pound
40 make gallon Of wine and eight
gallons OF wine to make a London
oushel. which is the eighth part of
! quarter. 1t will be noticed that
his Act dealt with coinage and the
weight thereof. but also derived the
volume or capacity measures from
The same source, that being in fact
The weight of the wheat corn.
The standard weights made by
order of Queen Elizabeth In 1885 A.
D.. are the Oldest English standard,
low in existence as far as known.
md may be described as follows: A
yet OF ball-shaped avoirdupois
weights Of so. 2S and il pounds; a
set of Z, 4, , and 1 pound weights
avoirdupois: a set Of fiat circular
from 3 pounds to 1-16 OF
In ounce avoirdupois: a set of cup
snapped troy weights OF 25G ounces
20 is ounce.
But regardless Of the form or tyne
Thich weights and measures and
Weighing devices have taken. It is
'ery clear that 1t il a subject that
mas claimed the attention OF all civ
i1zations entitled to that name. but
ls Tar as study Of the subject re
'eais, 1t Is In only comparatively re-
'ent years that the ideal lis being
and to those who are
Working along lines that have to do
WITH the development of this i'm
'ortant subject. as inventors. manu-
acturers and weights and measures
'mcers. 1t should be considerable
abstraction to know that they all
ire In fact an actual part of
mighty human institution that is
tiil In the making.-From Article
" Toledo Scales Co, Toledo. O.
me vogue for knickers for women
n sports is increasing in New York,