{"product_id":"vintage-brass-baby-balance-midwifes-spring-scale","title":"Vintage Brass Baby Balance, Midwife's Spring Scale","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eA brass spring balance used by midwives and health visitors to weigh infants. The baby was laid in a net cradle hung from the lower hook and the weight read off the scale, in hospitals and on home visits through the early years of the National Health Service. The spring still works. The net cradle is not present, as with most surviving examples.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Dimensions | 3.5 in. H, body\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Surface | Warm brass patina with light handling wear, unpolished\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Primary Material | Brass tube body\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Period | Vintage\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Date | Circa 1920 to 1950s\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Origin | England\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Style or Movement | Early twentieth century medical instrument\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Also Known As | baby scale, spring balance, infant weighing balance\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Maker, Mark, or Attribution | Portia, a registered trade name, England\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Marks | Marked Portia Regd. in an oval cartouche\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Construction or Technique | Brass tube spring balance with steel hooks at top and bottom and a knurled adjustment collar, with capacity to around 16 lbs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[d]Secondary Material | Steel hooks\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e[condition]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe spring works and the adjustment collar turns. Honest condition with warm brass patina and light handling wear. The net cradle is not present, which is normal for surviving examples of this scale. Please review all photographs closely, as they form part of this description.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Austyn Marie Design","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51844455465238,"sku":"CCC-90046","price":57.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0896\/4623\/5926\/files\/DSA09435.jpg?v=1789592149","url":"https:\/\/austyn-marie-design.myshopify.com\/products\/vintage-brass-baby-balance-midwifes-spring-scale","provider":"Austyn Marie Design","version":"1.0","type":"link"}