[Rarebooks] FS: Interesting 1850 American Trade Catalog

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

An item from our new Bookin'! catalog =>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Bookin-4.pdf>
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>From our [Hemp, What It Leads To-] Category, we are pleased to offer:

"Fairbanks' Patent Platform and Counter Scales"

St. Johnsbury, Vermont: 1850(?).

A very early catalog for a surprisingly interesting product. The invention
and patenting of a platform scale made it possible, for the first time, to
easily and accurately weigh large, heavy objects. This was a huge boon to
the development of American manufacturing and commerce, and it was also a
huge boon to the inventors, Erastus and Thaddeus Fairbanks, whose new
scale-making company grew from 10 employees in 1830 to 1,000 workers by
the outbreak of the American Civil War.

This was especially surprising since the brothers happened on the
invention by accident- jacks of many trades, they had decided to take a
stab at wholesale hemp distribution (supplying the cordage business, why,
what were you thinking?), but found themselves getting shorted on raw
hemp, which was sold by the ton, more often than was profitable. A little
ingenuity, and some tricks with levers, and a new type of commercial scale
was invented, and a dynasty was born. Fairbanks is still in business-
before the end of the 19th century their scales had been made the official
scales of the U.S. Post Office, and before the 20th century ended they had
seen their scales weigh-in Muhammad Ali, and fly on the Space Shuttle.
This very early catalog illustrates a variety of platform, portable
platform, and counter scales, and includes many glowing testimonials dated
from 1845 to 1850. Not recorded in Romaine, which lists catalogs for 1847
(20 pages) and 1851 (54 pages).

Softcover. 4"x6.25", 48 pages, line illustrations. Some wear, minor soil.
[39640]

PRICE: $375

PICTURES =>
This item & pictures from it are in our new Bookin'! catalog =>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Bookin-4.pdf>

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JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

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