The description of the first simple scales can be found in the works of classical authors. However, in Russia for a long time, people preferred to use familiar, albeit very conventional measures such as a “lokot” (cubit), “pyad” (span) and others.
The first measuring instruments in Russia appeared only in the 12th–13th centuries. They were equal-shouldered scales, which were like yokes with suspended cups; weights appeared at the same time. In the 14th century those scales were joined by steelyards, which were based on the principle of an unequal lever. They were used in all kinds of areas: farming, hunting, cooking and trading. There were two types of these devices: the iron Roman steelyard with a sliding weight and the wooden Russian with a movable pivot point. In order to weigh the goods, they were suspended from a special hook. A wire loop put on a rod would be held at its upper end and dragged along the rod until it balanced the device. The center of gravity of the scales was to be above the lower end of the loop.
Russian scales were marked with ordinary nails. When an item was placed on the hook to be weighed and the loop was moved, the dots underneath showed the weight of the item.
Despite the credit that the novelty gained among the Russian peasants, it was not particularly accurate. Even a correctly set instrument had a rather high margin of error, and unscrupulous vendors skillfully manipulated the steelyard, allowing it to over- or underweigh the goods depending on the intent. The high rate of fraud led to the official ban of steelyards in shops in the 18th century. However, they continued to be used in everyday life for a long time.
In the mid-19th century, the Courland (also known as Polish or Livonian) steelyard scales with a double ruler became fashionable. One ruler had a scale with markings and a counterweight attached to the end of it. The other was equipped with a hook and a handle to hold it. To know the weight of the goods, the ruler with the scale was pushed inside the ruler with the weight until equilibrium was reached.
The steelyard on display looks like a metal rod with a wooden part. At one end of it there is a spherical weight and at the other end — a hook with leather straps.
The first measuring instruments in Russia appeared only in the 12th–13th centuries. They were equal-shouldered scales, which were like yokes with suspended cups; weights appeared at the same time. In the 14th century those scales were joined by steelyards, which were based on the principle of an unequal lever. They were used in all kinds of areas: farming, hunting, cooking and trading. There were two types of these devices: the iron Roman steelyard with a sliding weight and the wooden Russian with a movable pivot point. In order to weigh the goods, they were suspended from a special hook. A wire loop put on a rod would be held at its upper end and dragged along the rod until it balanced the device. The center of gravity of the scales was to be above the lower end of the loop.
Russian scales were marked with ordinary nails. When an item was placed on the hook to be weighed and the loop was moved, the dots underneath showed the weight of the item.
Despite the credit that the novelty gained among the Russian peasants, it was not particularly accurate. Even a correctly set instrument had a rather high margin of error, and unscrupulous vendors skillfully manipulated the steelyard, allowing it to over- or underweigh the goods depending on the intent. The high rate of fraud led to the official ban of steelyards in shops in the 18th century. However, they continued to be used in everyday life for a long time.
In the mid-19th century, the Courland (also known as Polish or Livonian) steelyard scales with a double ruler became fashionable. One ruler had a scale with markings and a counterweight attached to the end of it. The other was equipped with a hook and a handle to hold it. To know the weight of the goods, the ruler with the scale was pushed inside the ruler with the weight until equilibrium was reached.
The steelyard on display looks like a metal rod with a wooden part. At one end of it there is a spherical weight and at the other end — a hook with leather straps.
