Rare Yarn Sorting Balance. Germany, XIX Century. Original Case

This curious balance is a precision article used to assort and classify different kinds of natural threads and yarns. It is a fully original piece, manufactured in Germany in the 19th century and that comes in its original case. The balance is composed of several metal pieces that can be stored in the cases compartments. It comes with a booklet with the instructions for assembling and using the instrument, printed in German. The set is almost complete except for one piece (rectangular in shape) that should be stored in its corresponding compartment, located in the middle of the case, to the right. We can see the instruments name and definition in the instruction booklet and inside the cases lid, printed in golden lettering on a satin ribbon: Universal Garn Sortir Waage. In German, this inscription means Universal Yarn Assorting Balance. The mechanism is similar to that of classic Roman scales, with a vertical pole that holds a mobile slim metal rod from whose end the user must hang the yarns he or she wishes to assort. The yarns must be hung from a hook connected to the right end of the rod, while the left end is trimmed with a metal pointer. A scaled metal plate with some inscriptions is attached to the balance, so when the user hangs the yarn the rod oscillates and the pointer indicates the kind of material this yarn is made of, depending on its weigh: wool, linen, cotton The set of accessories includes a series of U-shaped metal pieces that should be put over the metal rod to adjust each yarns weigh. Its function would be the same as that of the weighs in Roman scales. A yarn is placed on the balance to weigh against a predetermined, specific weight. The volume of material it takes to balance the weight determines its quality, and therefore the type of yarn and cloth it will be used to produce. Printed in the ribbon located inside the cases lid and also in the instruction booklet we can read the manufacturers name and the city where it was located: Edmund Kirmse Optisch Mechanische Werkstatt Leipzig Neumarkt, 23. The case is outside covered by black fabric and inside boasts a fine dark purple velvet lining with satin ribbons to hold the accessories in place. This rare scale for classifying yarns is a museum item, quite interesting and original. It is bound to belong to the most demanding collector. Measurements: Width: 5.5 in/14 cm. Heigth: 5.1 in/13 cm.