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Antique pre-owned condition with age-related wear and patina throughout. Cast-iron base retains portions of its original black finish with red and gold pinstriping. Brass beam and sliding weight show natural tarnish and oxidation. Metal weighing platform has substantial aged patina, discoloration and surface oxidation. Raised “PROP’Y OF U.S.P.O. DEP’T” lettering remains visible on the base. Scale appears largely complete as shown. Function and weighing accuracy have not been professionally tested or calibrated. Please review all photos for exact condition.
Antique Fairbanks U.S. Post Office Department postal scale featuring a heavy cast-iron crow-foot base, brass graduated weighing beam and large cylindrical brass sliding poise.
The cast-iron base is prominently marked:
“PROP’Y OF U.S.P.O. DEP’T”
indicating the scale was manufactured for use by the United States Post Office Department.
The brass beam is graduated to a maximum weighing capacity of 4 pounds and retains its original-style cylindrical sliding weight. The scale also retains its large metal weighing platform and remnants of attractive red and gold decorative pinstriping around the black cast-iron base.
This configuration is associated with antique Fairbanks postal scales commonly identified as the Model 605 type. Because no separate Model 605 marking has been located on this particular example, the model is not being represented as definitively marked 605.
A substantial piece of early American postal equipment with excellent display appeal for collectors of U.S. postal history, antique scales, Fairbanks equipment, general-store equipment or industrial Americana.
Details
* Maker: Fairbanks
* Type: Postal scale
* Government marking: PROP’Y OF U.S.P.O. DEP’T
* Organization: United States Post Office Department
* Capacity: 4 lb
* Material: Cast iron, brass and metal
* Brass graduated balance beam
* Cylindrical brass sliding poise/weight
* Metal weighing platform/tray
* Heavy cast-iron crow-foot base
* Black finish with surviving red/gold pinstriping
* Model: Fairbanks 605 type / exact model not physically confirmed
* Antique postal equipment
* Mechanical balance scale
* Significant original aged patina
* Sold as pictured
* Accuracy/calibration not tested
