Small and heavily restored balance that belonged to Joel Reed (1827-1900), owner of several gold mines in North Carolina, and that was probably used for weighing gold.
The balance stands on a wooden box with drawer. The pans are deep, made of copper, and 4.75 inches diameter. The 12-inch steel beam is marked “J. WHITTY N. YORK” on front and back. The brass lifting lever is marked "PATENT."
James Whitty was a New York City tinsmith who, at the time of his death in 1834, was described as a “Scalebeam Maker.” James Martine, a hardware dealer in Fayetteville, N.C., advertised “Whitty’s Patent Balances” in 1835.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.