Scales
(7 photos)
By hindsight we wish we had purchased many of the very unusual scales we found at flea markets all over Europe. The variety of design and style was amazing. The ones we bought were just a small sample of what we saw over the years.
For example, in Hameln, Germany, we saw an interesting scale, similar, but much larger than the one (photo below) we bought in Stockholm. It could weigh rather large items, and had an added indicator pointer that would permit a very accurate weight on small items. There were several for sale, for 45 to 65 DM ($27 to $40). We thought we would find one for less money at another flea market somewhere, but would you believe it, we have still never seen another scale like these, anywhere, before or since!
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1471
We drove from Lugano, Switzerland, to Locarno, Switzerland, (just a few miles apart) where we finally bought the brass scale Jim has looked at many times, in many places, but it was neither in good condition, nor had a good price, until today.
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1540
Later, at some unknown place, we bought an exact copy, but a smaller version of the scale we bought in Locarno. As a matter of fact we bought two of them, and Sweetie gave one of them as a gift to some lucky, but at this moment, unknown friend.
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1504
This morning we drove to downtown Athens, parked and shopped the flea market in the Monastiraki district, situated in among all the permanent shops. The Parthenon, sitting high on the Acropolis, can be seen above this marketplace.
Emmy bought a nice scale (a balance scale where the weights are placed in the pan on one side, and the “goods” in a pan at the other side), and several odds and ends. There are about 20 indented-marks on the pans, perhaps made by weight and measure inspectors. Several are just “marks,” but the dates 1955, and 1958 are stamped into the metal. Not so old, but so enjoyable.
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1515
We shopped the many little tourist and antique stores in Métsovo, Greece, but while there are plenty of nice things, the only thing we bought was an old market scale that Jim liked! Usually a market scale has a long horizontal bar and a weight is moved along the bar to determine the weight of whatever. This one is different since the bar, which has a heavy lump of brass on one end, is itself moved, rather than moving a weight on the bar.
The weight system is not pounds or metric, but must be the old Ottoman (Turkish) weight and measure called the “Oke.” This scale has the date “1938,” stamped to indicate it was approved as accurate.
The next day, as we walked in the street market in Tríkala, Greece, we discovered some “new” thingumajigs quickly become a fad. Yesterday Jim bought the first scale he had ever seen of a particular design, but already today we find several old women in Tríkala’s marketplace using the same, or a similar scale. Boy, some things catch on fast, don’t they. Their scales have three chains and a pan, while ours has two chains, each with a large hook used to snag bags of something.
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1499
We heard of a Loppmarknaden (flea market) in Skarholmen, Sweden (a suburb of Stockholm), so we got off the subway (this station is above ground) and went looking for it. We did find a very nice indoor shopping mall and almost gave up on the flea market. At the last minute we found they had converted one complete floor of the parking garage into the flea market. About half of the place was open today and we looked around and bought a small postage scale, and a couple of little items. We have seen the same, or similar scale, for up to $35. This one is useful, and it is used.
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1491
Talk about a contrast. This little scale, that we bought in Heidelberg, Germany, is not only small, but accurate, and easy to use to weigh a letter to determine postage due.
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1484
This is a typical market scale, we bought we know not where. That little lamp is placed on the pan, just to hold it in place for this photo.
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