Antique Sovereign & Guinea Double Turn Scales

18th century

Sold by Opus Antiques

Description

A mahogany boxed folding double turn sovereign and guinea scales in full working order. These are double turn scales meaning that have split weights to enable soverigns, half sovereigns, guinea and half guineas to be weighed. The interior of the box still retains the majority of its paper labels with instructions on how to use the scales and the makers name H Bell and Co Prescot, Lancashire.

Hamlet Bell of Prescott was recorded in the directories from 1781 to 1817 as being a wool and linen draper, he was also recorded in 1816 as a liquor merchant. He had a property which included a workshop, a joinery and a yard with five tenants.

Hamlet Bell was listed as a supplier of gold coins balances in 1817 by Peter Stubs the Warrington industrialist. It appears that he made balances for other makers as well such as DeGrave & Son and Joseph Denton. Hamlet died in1820 his son George carried on the business trading as H Bell & Co.

These scales date from around 1820. The box measures 14cm l x 2.5cm w x 1.8cm d.

C1820

Physical Dimensions

Height

2.5cm (0.98")

Width

14cm (5.51")

Depth

1.8cm (0.71")

Declaration

Opus Antiques has dated this piece to the Georgian era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA902475

Dealers Notes

Own a piece of history

Description

A mahogany boxed folding double turn sovereign and guinea scales in full working order.

“

These are double turn scales meaning that have split weights to enable soverigns, half sovereigns, guinea and half guineas to be weighed.

Opus Antiques

The interior of the box still retains the majority of its paper labels with instructions on how to use the scales and the makers name H Bell and Co Prescot, Lancashire.

fig 1. Antique Sovereign & Guinea Double Turn Scales

Hamlet Bell of Prescott was recorded in the directories from 1781 to 1817 as being a wool and linen draper, he was also recorded in 1816 as a liquor merchant. He had a property which included a workshop, a joinery and a yard with five tenants.

fig 2. Antique Sovereign & Guinea Double Turn Scales

Hamlet Bell was listed as a supplier of gold coins balances in 1817 by Peter Stubs the Warrington industrialist. It appears that he made balances for other makers as well such as DeGrave & Son and Joseph Denton. Hamlet died in1820 his son George carried on the business trading as H Bell & Co.

These scales date from around 1820. The box measures 14cm l x 2.5cm w x 1.8cm d.

C1820