Weighing machine for infants including scales, cradle, and weights
- maker:
- Henry Pooley and Son Limited
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
License
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Weighing machine for infants, consisting of red-painted cast iron scales with 4 weights and wicker cradle, weights inscribed Pooley and scales Mellins Food, English, 1890-1910
This weighing machine measured the weight of babies and infants. The child was placed in the wicker basket. Weights were added to the pan to make the balance level. The weights pictured here range from 2lb (just under 1kg) to 14lb (approximately 6.5kg). Babies are usually weighed regularly after they are born to monitor their growth.
The machine weights are made by Liverpool-based Henry Pooley and Sons Ltd. It was a company of mechanical engineers. It also made weighing machines for the railway industry. The base is inscribed with the words ‘Mellin’s Food’. This company made a milk modifier for feeding infants. It used these scales to promote its products.
Look closer
Baby weighing scalesDetails
- Category:
- Nursing & Hospital Furnishings
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A655834
- Materials:
- iron (cast) and wickerwork
- Measurements:
-
overall: 420 mm x 800 mm x 310 mm,
- type:
- counter scales
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- measuring device - instrument
- furnishing and equipment
- measuring device - instrument
- weighing machine
- scales - weighing device
- beamscale
- furnishing and equipment
- measuring device - instrument
- weighing machine
- credit:
- Harrod, C.E.
