Discovering the art and history of vintage tools | March 22, 2025

Each mechanical scale tells the story of an era, a profession, and a know-how. These instruments, witnesses of technological evolution, symbolize an era where precision and craftsmanship went hand in hand. Today, although they have lost their functional role in the face of electronics, they fascinate with their timeless aesthetics and historical value.
A brief history of mechanical scales: a thousand-year-old tool
Postal scale

Appearing in Antiquity, mechanical scales met a universal need: to measure accurately. Made of robust materials such as brass or iron, they combined solidity and meticulousness. With the arrival of electronic scales in the 20th century, these instruments lost their main function, but their timeless charm continues to captivate history and crafts enthusiasts.

Types of antique scales: between tradition and innovation
Equal-arm scales: the timeless pioneers
These models, based on the lever principle, are based on remarkable simplicity. A balanced beam and carefully added weights until equilibrium was reached were enough to guarantee impressive precision.

Anecdote: Archimedes is said to have used similar scales to calculate the density of metals with legendary precision.

Monetary scales: the merchants’ tool

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Precision treasures at the service of science and cooking
Postal scale

Apothecary scales: precision at the service of health
Indispensable in pharmacies, these scales made it possible to carefully measure the ingredients of remedies. Often protected by glass cases to avoid dust, they demonstrate the attention paid to medical precision.

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