Featured Found this on the wall of the homestead grainery -

Possible artistic way to display a counter weight and weight hooks for an old grain scale? Otherwise, I have no idea

 

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/the-heck-is-this.47292/ an older thread with a similar scale.

 

If that thing is wired on there the way I think it is, your idea seems like the only explanation.

 

I totally agree! That was exactly what I was

Thank you all for your help. It's nice to know I have somewhere to go when I'm totally stumped

 

Someone made sure it was going to stay Safely anchored!!

 

We have a metal beam (covered with thin luan) out on the back porch. This came from my Granddad’s farm. When my Dad inherited it (he HATED antiques) along with other items; he’d immediately spray paint it to make it look “new”. I shudder; but it found a home on this rail. I have a clear thumbtack holding up the right end so it is secure to the rail...
Leslie

 

These are called Roman balance scales and were used to weigh everything, not just grain. These look 19thC.

 

Hi @Adrian Lewis
Good to know what their real name is. My dad told him that Granddad said that they used it for meat. The farm produced meat, veg, fruit, poultry and other items...so could have been used for a number of items. Yes, undoubtedly from the 19th C. The farm operated between the 30's and 50's.

Leslie