Improvements in Scales for Purposes of Computation.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Scales for Purposes of Computation.
1, GEORGE HAUGHTON MEIRE, of Eyton-on-Severn, near Shrewsbury, in the County
of Shropshire, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to manufacture improved scales for computing the
value of live stock, more especially after they have been weighed upon the weighing
machines now provided under a recent Act of Parliament; my invention is also
applicable to other calculations which may be required to ascertain the per centage of
carcass to live weight as well as to other calculations, in which it may be desirable to
ascertain values from either the price per unit or standard of the whole weight, and
the values from the price per unit or standard of any given parts or percentage of the
whole weight.
The following description relates to the application of my invention to the valuation
of live animals, from which description its adaptation to other purposes will be readily
understood.
My invention consists in the application of logarithms to the purposes aforesaid, by
means of graduated scales; one scale representing the logarithms of the numbers
indicating the live weights of animals; and another scale, also logarithmetically
graduated, representing values of animals, as now sold. These scales are engraved
printed or otherwise shewn on card, boxwood, or other suitable material, at a suitable
distance apart to accommodate a sliding scale placed between them. One edge of this
slide is logarithmetically graduated so as to represent logarithms of the numbers
indicating per centages of carcass to live weight, or of other numbers used to express
the ratio of carcass to live weight. The other edge of the slide is also logarithmetically
graduated so as to represent the logarithms of numbers indicating prices per pound, or
prices according to any other unit or standard of weight.

page_text: In some adaptations of my invention, I use two or more slides upon the same rule,
which
may or may not all have graduated divisions engraved or otherwise shewn upon
them, the rules being made flat, triangular, square, hexagonal, or of other section, and
having scales upon some or all of the faces thus provided.
The scales are not constructed for all animals in one length, as they would be
inconveniently large, but various sections of the scales are used for different kinds of
animals; also two or more scales may be constructed to cover all ranges of weights,
per centages, prices and values.

page_text: I GEORGE HAUGHTON MEIRE of Eyton-on-Severn, near Shrewsbury in the County
of Shropshire, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to manufacture improved scales for computing the
value of live stock, more especially after the animals have been weighed upon the
weighing machines now provided under a recent Act of Parliament. My invention is
also applicable to other calculations connected with the sale of weighed animals which
partly accomplish their valuation, or which facilitate the valuation being completed by
other incans: (1) such calculations as supply information as to the relative proportion,
or ratio (which may be expressed as a percentage of the whole)-existing between
the weight of a live animal and the weight of its dressed carcass; (2) such as give
the probable weight of the carcass of an animal from that animal's live weight, and the
estimated proportion, or per centage of its carcass to, or in, its live weight: (3) such
as give the price per unit, or standard of live weight, when the actual weight and
value are known (4) such as give the price per unit or standard of carcass weight when
the live weight value and proportion, or percentage, of carcass are known: (5) such
as convert carcass prices per lb. (or per other unit or standard) at various proportions,
or per centages of carcass to, or in, live weight, to the equivalent live-weight prices
per the same, or a different unit, or standard; and vice versa and (6) to such other
calculations as are required in connection with the sale of live stock by weight as well
as to the purpose of calculating values from either the price per unit, or standard, of
the whole live weight, or the values from the price per unit, or standard of any given
part or percentage of the whole live weight.
My invention consists in the application of logarithmns to the purpose aforesaid by
means of graduated scales. One scale is graduated so as to represent the logarithms
of numbers indicating values of some animals as now sold. A second scale is graduated
to represent the logarithms of numbers indicating prices per lb., or prices according to
any other unit or standard. A third scale is graduated to represent the logarithms of
numbers indicating percentages of carcass to, or in, live weight, or of numbers used to
otherwise express the ratio of carcass to, or in, live weight. Or this scale may be
logarithmically graduated to show the proportion of offal lost in dressing to, or in,
live weight, instead of the proportion of carcass to, or in, live weight. A fourth scale
is graduated to represent the logarithms of numbers indicating weights of animals,
and their carcasses.
These scales are engraved, printed, or otherwise shown on card, boxwood, or other
suitable material and may be laid down in straight lines, circles, or otherwise on a flat

page_text: the
surface or on a curved surface, so that some two of the scales graduated on the opposite
edges of a slide may be moved adjoining to and between, above, or partly over,
other two scales, which are graduated a suitable distance apart to receive the slide, on
what may be called the rule.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts and in which drawings a is the rule, b is the
slide, and c c are the metal indices. Fig. 1. shows an adaptation of my invention in
which the scale representing prices per lb. (in the manner aforesaid) and the scale
representing percentages of carcass to, or in, live weight (in like manner) are
graduated on the opposite edges of the slide, which is placed between the other two
scales, (also logarithmically graduated) on the rule; so that the price scale on the
slide adjoins the value scale on the rule, and so that the per centage scale is adjacent
to the weight scale. Fig. 2 shows another adaptation of my invention in which a
value scale on the slide moves along against a weight scale on the Rule, and a per
centage scale on the other edge of the slide moves along against a price scale on the
rule.
All the scales shown in Fig. 1 are read from left to right except the per centage
scale, which is read from right to left, or backwards. If the letter (b) is used to
denote that a scale is read backwards, or from right to left, instead of in the usual
manner from left to right; then the adaptation, arrangement, or permutation of the
scales shown in Fig. I may be described as follows:-
Value Price Percentage (b) Weight: in which the two middle scales are shown
on the slide. If these four scales are graduated to read left to right, and graduated to
read right to left, and in all cases the two scales mentioned in the middle, between the
other two, are considered to be graduated on the slide: then there are eleven other
adaptations, arrangements or permutations of the scales, in which the value, or the
value (6) scale stands first, which may be used to give accurate results, viz :—

page_text: against the end of the rule as an index. In the same way a separate price scale,
showing prices by some other unit, or standard, may be graduated, partly on the
bottom of the slide seat, and partly on the back of the slide; and the graduations
can be suited to either of the ends of the slide and rule being used as indices. If
the slide and slide seat are made sufficiently wide, any number of other price scales
may be shown in like manner; and thus the corresponding prices of one unit, or
standard of weight, will stand opposite to, and may be converted into the prices of
another standard of weight; while at the same time a per centage, scale and movable
index below it, as shown in Fig. 3 provides a means of using the prices shown by
these price scales as carcass prices, as well as live-weight prices.
The scales are not usually constructed to show small differences in weight, value,
per centage, and price for all animals in one length (or otherwise) as they would be
inconveniently large, but various sections of some or all of the scales are used for
different kinds of animals. In some cases two or more slides are used upon the same
rule, or the same slide may extend to two or more faces of the same rule, the rules
being made rectangular, hexagonal, or of any other section, and having scales upon
some or all of the faces thus provided. Also the scales may be laid down longitudinally
upon a cylinder, or round a cylinder spirally, or in the form of a circle.
The similarity of the graduation of the weight and price scales shown in Fig. 1,
allows either to be used to indicate weights, while prices are shown by the other.
This often enables the values of animals of light weight, or of high price to be found
without extension of graduation, or special graduation for the purpose; and accurate
results are obtainable in the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 or in other adaptations,
such as that arising from turning the slide in Fig. 1 so that the price scale moves
against the weight scale.
On account of animals being unfasted, unshorn, wet, or for other reasons it is
sometimes desirable to make a deduction. The sliding index shown on the weight
scale in Fig. 3 may be used for performing this operation. It is graduated to show
the logarithms of numbers which represent deductions of from 1 to 10 per cent.
The following short description explains the method of using the arrangement of
the scales shown in Fig. 2.
The Live-stock Computer accurately gives at sight the values of animals (1) by
comparison, (2) at a live weight price, and (3) at a carcass price.
It will often be an assistance to set one of the metal indices to the division being
used on the weight scale, the other may be set on the price scale.
(1) By comparison. The values of animals are ascertained at the same relative
price as that at which some other animal has been sold, by setting the slide, so that
the value of the animal which has been sold is opposite to its live weight; then the
values of similar animals are also found opposite to their live weights. Example:-
If £20 is the value of a cow weighing alive 10 cwt., what are the values of cows
weighing 9 cwt., 11 cwt., &c.? Set the division of the "value" scale, which represents
£20 opposite to the division of the weight scale which represents 10 cwt.; then £18,
£22 &c., (the values required) will be found on the value scale opposite to 9 cwt.,
11 cwt., &c.
(2) At a live weight price, the value of an animal is ascertained by setting the
arrow of 100 per cent. of the per centage scale opposite to the price per lb. of the
animal; then the value required is found opposite to the live weight.
Example. Let the live weight of an Ox be 11 cwt. 1 qr., and the price per lb. 4d.
Set the arrow opposite to 4d. on the price scale; then £21 (the value required) will
be found opposite to 11 cwt. 1 qr.
(3) At a carcass price, the value of one or more animals is ascertained by setting
the division of the per centage scale which represents the estimated per centage of
carcass in live weight opposite to the price per lb. of the carcass; then the value
required is found opposite to the live weight. Example. Let the live weight be 11 cwt.
1 qr., the price per lb. 8d. and the estimated per centage of carcass in live weight 50.
Set 50 of the per centage scale opposite 8d. of the price scale; then £21 (the value
required) will be found opposite to 11 cwt. 1 qr.

page_text: The per centage of carcass in live weight is ascertained by pulling out the slide
entirely and returning it, so that the per centage scale moves along against
weight scale, and so that the arrow is set opposite to the carcass weight; then the
per centage of carcass in live weight required is found opposite to the live weight.
Example. Let the carcass weight be 5 cwt. and the live weight 10 cwt.; Set the arrow
opposite to 5 cwt.; then 50 (the per centage of carcass in live weight required) will
be found opposite to 10 cwt.
Table giving a general view of per centages of carcass in live weight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The application of logarithms by means of graduated scales to the purpose of
computing, or calculating the values of animals from their live weights; and for the
purpose of making calculations which partly accomplish or which are of assistance
in connection with, the valuation of weighed live animals, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the drawings.