I really like the old Redding #1 oil damped scale. They were well made and very straightforward with clearly engraved beams and good positive notches for the both poises. The fact that they only weighed from 0-350 gn was also a definite plus point. I have a similar nice old Webster oil damped scale too.
That is a very impressive demonstration Allan ! Do you find that the swinging pan makes any difference to the weight, I always stop mine swinging as I find it gives a bouncing needle on the scale, the Targetmaster trickler is the very best on the market. Chris B.
Thank you Chris. In theory, the swinging pan shouldn't effect the indicated weight. If the stirrup knife edges are doing their job properly then the centre of mass revolves round a fixed point even if the pan is not centred on the platform or material is not in the centre of the pan. However, nothings perfect, friction and inertia all play a part. Personally I quite like to see a pointer with a bit of movement rather than over damped and dead, you know then it's not stuck.
Allan, I know the theory says that the hanging pivot should not be effected by a swinging body, but I always try to stop the pan from swinging, your point about the "pulsing" needle is very good, at least you can read the average point reading and know it has not stuck, I suppose that is why I trust the beam balance over the digital, when it comes to critical measurement I really do not trust cheap electronics.
Gravity seems fairly reliable and it's nice to know some of these old scales will still be going strong long after I'm gone. Not many of todays digitals will still be working in twenty years.
