Furniture - Weights and Measures

D15

Furniture - Weights and Measures

This is an example of the early weights and measures 'kit' given to each town in Massachusetts by the State in order to regulate consistent weighing and measuring in each township. This 'kit' was moved from the Town Hall basement in the summer of 2004 and brought to the WHS. It ineeded restoration and is missing some of its parts. There is another example in Chesterfield at the historical society. In the summer of 2006 much work was done on this artifact. John Sullivan repaired the right-hand (facing) upper door, Amy Upton refinished it, Ted Claydon cleaned and polished all the pieces and the entire cabinet and made necessary repairs to the scale (Deane Messeck welded missing pieces). Descriptions of the various weights and measures are available and 4 laminated pages describing the history are with the cabinet. It was finished by the time of the annual meeting on October 15, 2006. According to Catherine Rude Sena it is one of the best preserved she has ever seen. Please see also Box 30a # 2006a-277 for a description of the history of the Weights and Measures, a list of the various weights and measures, a photograph of the original description, a brochure for Gurley Field Kits, 2 certificates of annual testing of the weights and measures, and an article from Bulletin 22, August 1926, from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Labor and Industries, Division of standards which describes the origin of present state standard weights.

Artifacts

1833/1866

2007-03-24

On Display

mid 19th century

Town Hall