Balance, London, England, 1860-1880

Made:
1860-1880 in London
maker:
L Oertling
Balance, London, England, 1860-1880 Apothecary's balance, model 00, in rectangular glass case
Balance, London, England, 1860-1880 Apothecary's balance, model 00, in rectangular glass case

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Apothecary's balance, model 00, in rectangular glass case
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Apothecary's balance, model 00, in rectangular glass case, lower drawer contains 5 spare pans, 2 brass scoops, small envelope of powder and 79 assorted weights, made by Oertling, London, English, c.1880

Accurately measuring out ingredients for medical treatments is vital to ensure the patient takes the correct dosage. If incorrect the dosages can be lethal. Enclosed by a wooden glass and ivory case, this brass and steel balance was designed by Ludwig Oertling. He had settled in London from Germany in the early 1840s and his firm became the leading manufacturer of balances in Britain. Oertling’s balances were also used in scientific research and chemical analysis.

Details

Category:
Pharmacy-ware
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A656022
Materials:
case, wood, case, glass, case, ivory, stand, brass, stand, ivory, scales, brass, weights, brass, weights, steel, pans, brass and pans, glass
Measurements:
overall: 341 mm x 344 mm x 220 mm, 3.88 kg
type:
balance

Parts

5 assorted pans, circular, none fit scales, 4 glass and one brass

5 assorted pans

5 assorted pans, circular, none fit scales, 4 glass and one brass

Measurements:
max: diameter 80 mm
min: diameter 73 mm
Materials:
brass and glass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt1
type:
pans
2 small brass scoops, circular bowls, flat handles

2 small brass scoops

2 small brass scoops, circular bowls, flat handles

Measurements:
bowl: diameter 37 mm
whole: length 60 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt2
type:
scoops
Bell-shaped 1/4 ounce weight, brass

Bell-shaped 1/4 ounce weight

Bell-shaped 1/4 ounce weight, brass

Measurements:
height 20 mm
diameter 10 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt3
type:
weights
4 steel, square weights - all to weigh 2 drams

4 steel, square weights - all to weigh 2 drams

4 steel, square weights - all to weigh 2 drams

Measurements:
length 17 mm
width 17 mm
depth 10 mm
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A656022 Pt4
type:
weights
2 steel, square weights - both to weight 1 dram

2 steel, square weights - both to weight 1 dram

2 steel, square weights - both to weight 1 dram

Measurements:
length 14 mm
width 14 mm
depth 7 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt5
type:
weights
Rectangular brass 2 drachm weight made by W and T.Avery, Birmingham

Rectangular brass 2 drachm weight made by W and T.Avery

Rectangular brass 2 drachm weight made by W and T.Avery, Birmingham

Measurements:
length 18 mm
width 24 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt6
type:
weights
Set of 3 sample weights, brass, rectangular

Set of 3 sample weights

Set of 3 sample weights, brass, rectangular

Measurements:
max: length 15 mm
max: width 18 mm
min: length 10 mm
min: width 13 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt7
type:
weights
Set of 3 dram weights, brass, square

Set of 3 dram weights

Set of 3 dram weights, brass, square

Measurements:
max: length 16 mm
max: width 16 mm
min: length 9 mm
min: width 10 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt8
type:
weight sets
Set of 3 dram weights, square, brass

Set of 3 dram weights

Set of 3 dram weights, square, brass

Measurements:
max: length 15 mm
max: width 15 mm
min: length 10 mm
min: width 10 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt9
type:
weight sets
Set of 3 sample weights, scruple, brass

Set of 3 sample weights

Set of 3 sample weights, scruple, brass

Measurements:
max: length 11 mm
max: width 11 mm
min: length 7 mm
min: width 7 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt10
type:
weight sets
2 circular, brass weights, 1x2 drams and 1x1 dram

2 circular, brass weights

2 circular, brass weights, 1x2 drams and 1x1 dram

Measurements:
max: diameter 20 mm
min: diameter 18 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt11
type:
weights
Rectangular, brass 2 dram weight

Rectangular, brass 2 dram weight

Rectangular, brass 2 dram weight

Measurements:
length 16 mm
width 14 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt12
type:
weights
Square, brass 2 scruple weight

Square, brass 2 scruple weight

Square, brass 2 scruple weight

Measurements:
length 13 mm
width 12 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt13
type:
weights
Tiny brass 1/2 scruple weight, square

Tiny brass 1/2 scruple weight

Tiny brass 1/2 scruple weight, square

Measurements:
length 8 mm
width 8 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt14
type:
weights
10x6 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

10x6 grain weights

10x6 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

Measurements:
max: length 18 mm
max: width 18 mm
min: length 13 mm
min: width 13 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt15
type:
weights
7x5 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

7x5 grain weights

7x5 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

Measurements:
min: length 12 mm
min: width 12 mm
max: length 18 mm
max: width 18 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt16
type:
weights
9x4 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

9x4 grain weights

9x4 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

Measurements:
max: length 15 mm
max: width 14 mm
min: length 11 mm
min: width 11 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt17
type:
weights
8x3 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

8x3 grain weights

8x3 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

Measurements:
max: length 12 mm
max: width 11 mm
min: length 9 mm
min: width 9 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt18
type:
weights
5x2 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

5x2 grain weights

5x2 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

Measurements:
max: length 12 mm
max: width 11 mm
min: length 8 mm
min: width 788 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt19
type:
weights
3x1 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

3x1 grain weights

3x1 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

Measurements:
max: length 10 mm
max: width 7 mm
min: length 8 mm
min: width 6 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt20
type:
weights
4x1/2 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

4x1/2 grain weights

4x1/2 grain weights, thin brass, roughly square

Measurements:
length 5 mm
width 5 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt21
type:
weights
3 thin brass grain weights - 1x6, 1x5 and 1x3 grains

3 thin brass grain weights - 1x6

3 thin brass grain weights - 1x6, 1x5 and 1x3 grains

Measurements:
length 19 mm
width 17 mm
length 12 mm
width 13 mm
Materials:
brass
Object Number:
A656022 Pt22
type:
weights
Thin steel 6 grain weight in form of a number 6

Thin steel 6 grain weight in form of a number 6

Thin steel 6 grain weight in form of a number 6

Measurements:
length 27 mm
width 22 mm
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A656022 Pt23
type:
weights
Thin steel 3 grain weight in form of a number 3

Thin steel 3 grain weight in form of a number 3

Thin steel 3 grain weight in form of a number 3

Measurements:
length 22 mm
width 17 mm
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A656022 Pt24
type:
weights
Thin steel 1/2 grain weight in form of number 1/2

Thin steel 1/2 grain weight in form of number 1/2

Thin steel 1/2 grain weight in form of number 1/2

Measurements:
length 17 mm
width 12 mm
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A656022 Pt25
type:
weights
Small amount of greenish crystals wrapper in paper, contained in a small white envolope

Small amount of greenish crystals wrapper in paper

Small amount of greenish crystals wrapper in paper, contained in a small white envolope

Measurements:
envelope: length 60 mm
envelope: width 105 mm
Materials:
paper
Object Number:
A656022 Pt26
type:
envelopes

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