How did 19th century customers know when they purchased a “pound” of butter that it really was a fair and consistent pound among all town merchants? They knew because every merchant’s scales were calibrated with the official town balance, weights and measures which now have a special place here in the Meekins Library. After the Massachusetts Legislature passed its 1848 Act, it sent a balance and a complete set of standard weights to every county, city, and town in the Commonwealth. In Williamsburg, the Sealer of Weights and Measures, an elected town official, used these tools to calibrate the scales and other measuring devices of local merchants. So, if the equal arm balance was straight across when the official 1-pound weight was across from one pound of butter, all was fair and equitable. These calibration tools were used in town until 1946—having survived the Mill River Flood of 1874! Come see the cabinet together with all its original parts, proudly on display at the Meekins Library. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist and photographer. #throwbackthursday; #tbt.
Posted to Facebook 2/16/2023
