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Smithsonian sunburst Smithsonian National Postal Museum
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    street map of Postal museum

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  • Peerless hanging letter scale
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Peerless hanging letter scale

Object Details

Description
The “Peerless” Letter Scale is a quadrant, pendulum, hanging-style scale that features a clip and a hook to weigh both letters and small parcels. A contemporary advertisement and catalog listing for the scale noted that “the scale is made of hard metal, nickel-plated, weighs accurately up to twelve ounces, and will wear for years. It has no springs, levers, or other contrivances that are liable to get out of order, and is simple, accurate, and durable. The scale is provided . . . with a holder, whereby a letter or paper can be easily and quickly inserted, and a hook to attach to parcels. Each Scale is packed in a neat box, and can be sent safely through the mail.”
The case or box that originally accompanied the scale is described as a “handsome morocco box [sic], satin-lined, and is especially suitable as a presentation case.” The list price for the Peerless Letter Scale was fifty cents and the price for the case twenty-five cents. The catalog listing also indicated that the scale could be purchased with two different bases -- with the Japanned metal base, the scale sold for one dollar, and with the low tile base, $1.25.
The Cross Pen Company, founded in Boston in 1881, manufactured stylographic pens, nib fountain pens, and other related stationary and office materials. It had limited connection to the A.T. Cross Company of Providence, Rhode Island.
References:
NARA RG 28 Entry A1/282 Artifacts Relating to Postal History, n.d.; Box 1; file “Peerless Letter Scale” Michael Fultz, “Cross Letter/Parcel Scale?” and “History of A. T. Cross,”
http://www.penbid.com/Auction/showarticle.asp?art_id=60
Lambert, Barbara. 150 Years of the A.T. Cross Company. Lincoln, RI: Cross Company, 1996.
Data Source
National Postal Museum
Date
c. 1900
Object number
0.234863.108
Manufacturer
Cross Pen Company
Type
Commercial Products
Medium
metal
Dimensions
Height x Width x Depth: 6 1/4 x 3 1/2 x 1/2 in. (15.88 x 8.89 x 1.27 cm)
Place
Massachusetts
See more items in
National Postal Museum Collection
On View
Currently on exhibit at the National Postal Museum
Topic
The Gilded Age (1877-1920)
Customers & Commerce
Record ID
npm_0.234863.108
Usage
CC0
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm8ef8bf248-215b-4322-a904-867fab6e42b0
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
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IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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HomeSmithsonian National Postal Museum

Visit »

Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
(Closed December 25)

Admission is always free!

2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.
Washington, DC 20002

The museum's main entrance is located on the corner of First Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE. Other entrances have variable hours.

street map of Postal museum

Learn more
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Owney, the Railway Mail Service Mascot

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