A scalebeam is a group of manual scales with an unequal lever and a counterweight allowing to weigh not using weights. Also, spring scales are often belonged to a scalebeam group but, in fact, they are dynamometers. A feature of both scalebeams is not very high accuracy, sensitivity and reliability. That is why it was forbidden to use most of scalebeams in a trade.
The exact date of the scalebeams appearance is unknown and is a thing of the past. The “scalebeam” word was meant not only scales but a 2.5 pounds mass unit in Russia.
Lever scalebeams and Spring scalebeams
