Antique Postal Scales

Larry T. Nix of Middleton, WI writes to say that Round-Up readers might be interested in knowing about the antique mail room machines found on the Early Office Museum website.

The site features pictures and write-ups about machines that addressed items to be mailed and that sealed, affixed postage to, and opened envelopes.

Also included are postal scales.

According to the site, "The UK introduced both postal rates based on weight and adhesive postage stamps in 1840. Other countries soon followed, and as a result there was a market for letter scales."

Shown above is a candlestick spring scale that was introduced in 1840 and marketed into the 1870s.

To visit the Early Office Museum website, click here.

Also, check out Larry's Postal Librariana website.