Dayton shop scale 80cm barrel-shaped, USA, early 20th century
🔥 Pièce unique – 1 exemplaire disponible
This Dayton shop scale is an American grocery scale with a horizontal barrel, known as a ‘barrel scale’, marked ‘The Computing Scale Co., Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A.’ on its openwork cast-iron fascia. Its upper cylinder, with a gold-coloured finish and red band, features a display window graduated in weight and price, situated above an oval glass weighing pan edged in green. The whole unit rests on a cast-iron plinth with moulded feet bearing the inscription ‘DAYTON’, featuring gilded Art Nouveau decoration on the uprights.
The vendor would place the goods (meat, sweets or coffee) on the glass tray, and the weight would turn the graduated drum inside the cylinder, allowing the exact weight and the price calculated at the per-pound rate to be read simultaneously. The example on offer is complete, with its glass tray, signed band and well-preserved gold and red paintwork, making it a rare collector’s item.
This Dayton shop scale will appeal to collectors of vintage commercial equipment, enthusiasts of the history of computing and IBM, as well as fans of retro décor for a shop, bar, restaurant or interior in an industrial or American style. With its exposed mechanics and period design, it is a true museum piece.
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850 €
🔥 Pièce unique – 1 exemplaire disponible
🔥 Pièce unique – 1 exemplaire disponible
- FREE DELIVERY in 78, Paris, and 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95.
- Return within 14 days
Founded in 1891 in Dayton, Ohio, The Computing Scale Company invented the automatic price-calculating scale, which revolutionised retail by eliminating calculation errors and speeding up service. Its barrel scales, produced between approximately 1900 and 1915, equipped grocery stores, butchers and general stores across the United States, where customers could read the weight of their goods and the price to pay directly from the graduated drum.
In 1911, The Computing Scale Company merged with other firms to form the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR), renamed International Business Machines — IBM — in 1924. This shop scale is thus a direct technological ancestor of the computing multinational, which lends it additional interest for collectors and enthusiasts of the history of technology.
Dayton shop scale barrel-type, a vintage American grocery scale with a horizontal barrel, manufactured by The Computing Scale Co., Dayton, Ohio, in the early 20th century. Oval glass weighing pan, automatic price calculation, collector’s item.
Origin: USAMaterials: Metal, glass and cast iron
Year: Early 20th century
Condition: Collectable
Free collection from the Coignières showroom
Have it delivered via Cocolis
Hauteur: 80 cm / 31.5 in
Largeur: 60 cm / 23.6 in
Profondeur : 60 cm / 23.6 in
Poids: 60 kg / 132.3 lbs
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We offer free delivery in France for all items — including combined orders, if you are located in Yvelines (78), in Paris, or in the departments 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95.
For all other destinations within mainland France, your order can be delivered securely via Cocolis.
Upon receiving your order, you have 14 calendar days to return your item or report any issue.
Some selected products also benefit from free shipping within mainland France.
For full details, please visit our Shipping & Returns page.
You may also choose free collection from our showroom in Coignières.
