Salter’s - Balance or scale - Family Scale - Iron

This Salter’s balance, manufactured in Switzerland in the late 19th or early 20th century, is an exceptional piece both for its design and its condition. It is a family-type mechanical balance with a body made of cast metal in black and a decorative base reflecting the aesthetic taste of the industrial era. At the top, there is a metal bowl for weighing food or objects, while the large front dial displays measurements in pounds and kilograms, with a central needle indicating the weight accurately.

The dial is marked with the inscription 'Salter’s Improved Family Scale,' along with an indication of a capacity of up to 20 pounds, making it ideal for domestic use. The fact that it retains all its original parts—including the bowl, the needle, the protective glass, and the internal mechanism—and still functions properly, gives it notable historical and collectible value.

These scales were common in European middle and upper-class kitchens, where precision in food preparation was valued. Their manufacture in Switzerland, a country renowned for its precision engineering, reinforces their quality and durability. Additionally, the name Salter is associated with a long tradition in measuring instruments, which adds prestige to the piece.

Today, this balance represents not only a functional tool but also a testament to 19th-century utilitarian design, where aesthetics and mechanics were integrated into everyday objects. It is an ideal piece for collectors, museums, or as a decorative element with history and character.

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