Posted 6 years ago
resbum
(2 items)
Obviously this is a scale. It was manufactured by JL Brown of New York apparently. It came from my Great Grandmother. I would like to know if anyone knows anything about it. For example, is JL Brown a precursor to Brown & Sharpe with makes measuring instruments to this day. I have googled JL Brown and have found nothing really.
I have no idea why a J.L. Brown, Scale Maker, shares space in what I assume is a "lot" of old prints including the Swiss alps.
https://www.paths-skirt.top/thun-switzerland-ad-for-jl-brown-scales-maker-new-york-1855-antique-print-p-20218.html
Do you think this is the same J.L. Brown?
This druggist's scale was made by John L. Brown, the largest, but perhaps least known, New York scale maker in the 19th century.
He was born in Massachusetts in 1805, and began in the scale business in 1833. In 1839 he won a silver medal for a balance at the American Institute Fair. By 1850, he had 60 hands working for him and produced over $100,000 worth of scales.
In 1855 he was listed as being worth $100,000 from his scale business and real estate investments. He continued in the scale business until 1870, when he retired to Westchester County. He died in 1875, and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
Signed Brown scales are uncommon, and I estimate your beautiful example was made between 1850 and 1870.