Brooklyn Museum: Decorative Arts: Sentinel Scale

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Sentinel Scale

Designer: Harold L. van Doren, American, 1895-1957
Manufacturer: Toledo
Medium: Plastic, metal
Place Manufactured: Toledo, Ohio, USA
Dates: 1930-1940
Dimensions: 15 7/8 x 17 7/8 x 15 3/4 in. (40.3 x 45.4 x 40 cm)
Markings: Marked on metal frame around front window, raised (unpainted) lettering against black-painted ground: "NO SPRINGS HONEST WEIGHT / TOLEDO / TRADE MARKS REGISTERED U.S. PATENT OFFICE" On metal frame around back window, raised (unpainted) lettering against black-painted ground: "NO SPRINGS HONEST WEIGHT / TRADE MARKS REG. TOLEDO U.S. PATENT OFFICE" On yellow inspection sticker affixed to back below window, printed in black: "J F M A M J J A S [punched out hole] N D / 19[punched hole]6 1987 198[number worn off] / CITY OF ERIE / BUREAU OF WEIG[letters worn off] / AND MEASURE[letters worn off] / INSPECTED by [printed line filled in with name that is too worn to read] / DO NOT DETACH OR / DEFACE UNDER PENALTY" On top of scale's body (below tray), raised plastic: 4 identical symbols (possibly logo), one in each corner, consisting of a circle containing a large "T" with vertical bar bisected by horizontal bar, from each end of this bar hangs a solid semicircular form resembling an old-fashioned hanging or basket scale.
Collections: Decorative Arts
Museum Location: This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
Accession Number: 1998.143.1
Credit Line: Anonymous gift in honor of Sam Marcy
Image: Overall, 1998.143.1_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

Catalogue Description: Sentinel electric scale of white plastic body on black base with metal tray painted white with black edging. Directional orientation based on viewer's perspective if facing "front" side with smaller window. Body is a rectangular box that rises into an angled, rounded top portion at front and back; stands on conforming black (metal?) base of about 1 ½" high raised on metal feet with rubber pads. Front edge of base bulges out slightly at center; two black disks each placed about 4" from side and centered over line where white body meets black base on both front and back of scale. A small, rectangular window with silver-colored and black-painted frame set into the front curved portion of body. Recessed behind curved, colorless plastic windowpane is a vertical band of numbers and gauge lines for pound measurement. A wide rectangular, similarly framed window is set into curved portion of back. This window shows various gauges for measuring: a stationary plate painted yellow and light green marked with black numbers and letters for the one and two-cent graduations (numbers run from 8-34 on one side; from 35-75 with some skipped numbers on other). Through rectangular cut-outs in this plate are visible a horizontal red indicator line (for reading the weight) and vertical columns of numbers and gauge lines that correspond with the graduation markers and move when item is weighed; there is a larger columnar band of numbers and gauge lines down center for actual weight in pounds. Rising from center of top of scale is a short column that supports the weighing tray. Tray is a flat rectangle with notched corners and rounded edges, about as wide as scale's body and several inches shallower. A black, trapezoid shaped metal wall or barrier rises about 1 ½" along front edge of tray and is attached with screws by two struts that wrap around to bottom of tray. Tray moves up and down on column, turning the numbered gauges, when object is placed upon it. Electric cord projects from underside of base at front corner along right side. CONDITION: Fair; shows wear from use; all over scratches, nicks and dirt; black decorative disk on right front is missing; electric cord frayed at base.

Collections: Decorative Arts: Sentinel Scale