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Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
I went looking online for kitchen scales today. Lots of digital
things, but nothing I am looking for. For the past 40 years my mother had (from Germany) this incredibly useful kitchen scale. It needed no batteries, had no moving mechanism (just a couple parts you move yourself), simple to operate, fool-proof, etc. The whole thing was plastic. It consisted of a measuring cup at one end of a balance beam, a counterweight at the other end, and a sliding pivot in the middle, on which the whole scale would balance on your countertop. The sliding piece had a small bubble-level in it. Well, not all plastic; the counterweight clearly had some metal in it and the bubble-level contained liquid. You set the sliding thing to point at the weight you want (written on the balance beam) and fill the measuring cup with ingredients until the bubble-level shows it's balanced. The scale will then be sitting on your countertop rocking back and forth on the sliding pivot. In ASCII art (fixed-width font) it looked something like this: measuring \ cup / sliding adjustable \ / pivot counterweight \__/ ____ ____ |===============| |=======#### balance beam \/ Of course, being from Germany, the weights on the balance beam were marked off in grams, and the volume increments on the measuring cup showed milliliters. That's OK. Try as I might, I can't find this device ANYWHERE. Not on eBay, not on my Google searches, noplace. Are these still sold anymore? -A |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
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Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
Barry wrote:
> (axlq) wrote: > > >For the past 40 years my mother had (from Germany) this incredibly > >useful kitchen scale. It needed no batteries, had no moving > >mechanism (just a couple parts you move yourself), simple to > >operate, fool-proof, etc. I'd think your local drug dealer could help you with one of those. > I've never seen the one you are searching for. But there are some > mechanical kitchen scales at Amazon. I own this one. which does the > job well:http://www.amazon.com/Salter-11-Poun...n-Stainless/dp... Lee Vally has a nice kitchen scale too. http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page...=2,40733,44734 Sheldon |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
|
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
axlq > writes: > I went looking online for kitchen scales today. Lots of digital > things, but nothing I am looking for. I'm surprised you can still get them. After all, people might use them for making druuuuugs. Geoff -- "That's like using a condom *and* abstinence to prevent pregnancy." -- Andy Banta |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
axlq wrote:
> I went looking online for kitchen scales today. Lots of digital > things, but nothing I am looking for. > > For the past 40 years my mother had (from Germany) this incredibly > useful kitchen scale. It needed no batteries, had no moving > mechanism (just a couple parts you move yourself), simple to > operate, fool-proof, etc. > > The whole thing was plastic. It consisted of a measuring cup at > one end of a balance beam, a counterweight at the other end, and a > sliding pivot in the middle, on which the whole scale would balance > on your countertop. The sliding piece had a small bubble-level in > it. Well, not all plastic; the counterweight clearly had some metal > in it and the bubble-level contained liquid. > > You set the sliding thing to point at the weight you want (written > on the balance beam) and fill the measuring cup with ingredients > until the bubble-level shows it's balanced. The scale will then be > sitting on your countertop rocking back and forth on the sliding > pivot. In ASCII art (fixed-width font) it looked something like > this: > > measuring > \ cup / sliding adjustable > \ / pivot counterweight > \__/ ____ ____ > |===============| |=======#### > balance beam \/ > > Of course, being from Germany, the weights on the balance beam were > marked off in grams, and the volume increments on the measuring cup > showed milliliters. That's OK. > > Try as I might, I can't find this device ANYWHERE. Not on eBay, not > on my Google searches, noplace. Are these still sold anymore? > > -A Well this doesn't have the pivot, but it may be similar: "http://www.saveonscales.com/product_myweigh_triple_beam_balance_scale.html" |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
On Aug 12, 9:13 pm, (axlq) wrote:
> I went looking online for kitchen scales today. Lots of digital > things, but nothing I am looking for. > > For the past 40 years my mother had (from Germany) this incredibly > useful kitchen scale. It needed no batteries, had no moving > mechanism (just a couple parts you move yourself), simple to > operate, fool-proof, etc. That's un-American. > > The whole thing was plastic. It consisted of a measuring cup at > one end of a balance beam, a counterweight at the other end, and a > sliding pivot in the middle, on which the whole scale would balance > on your countertop. The sliding piece had a small bubble-level in > it. Well, not all plastic; the counterweight clearly had some metal > in it and the bubble-level contained liquid. > > You set the sliding thing to point at the weight you want (written > on the balance beam) and fill the measuring cup with ingredients > until the bubble-level shows it's balanced. The scale will then be > sitting on your countertop rocking back and forth on the sliding > pivot. In ASCII art (fixed-width font) it looked something like > this: > > measuring > \ cup / sliding adjustable > \ / pivot counterweight > \__/ ____ ____ > |===============| |=======#### > balance beam \/ > > Of course, being from Germany, the weights on the balance beam were > marked off in grams, and the volume increments on the measuring cup > showed milliliters. That's OK. > > Try as I might, I can't find this device ANYWHERE. Not on eBay, not > on my Google searches, noplace. Are these still sold anymore? > > -A |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
In article >,
Terry > wrote: > On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:13:12 +0000 (UTC), (axlq) > wrote: > > >I went looking online for kitchen scales today. Lots of digital > >things, but nothing I am looking for. > > > >For the past 40 years my mother had (from Germany) this incredibly > >useful kitchen scale. It needed no batteries, had no moving > >mechanism (just a couple parts you move yourself), simple to > >operate, fool-proof, etc. > > > >The whole thing was plastic. It consisted of a measuring cup at > >one end of a balance beam, a counterweight at the other end, and a > >sliding pivot in the middle, on which the whole scale would balance > >on your countertop. The sliding piece had a small bubble-level in > >it. Well, not all plastic; the counterweight clearly had some metal > >in it and the bubble-level contained liquid. > > > >You set the sliding thing to point at the weight you want (written > >on the balance beam) and fill the measuring cup with ingredients > >until the bubble-level shows it's balanced. The scale will then be > >sitting on your countertop rocking back and forth on the sliding > >pivot. In ASCII art (fixed-width font) it looked something like > >this: > > > > measuring > > \ cup / sliding adjustable > > \ / pivot counterweight > > \__/ ____ ____ > > |===============| |=======#### > > balance beam \/ > > > >Of course, being from Germany, the weights on the balance beam were > >marked off in grams, and the volume increments on the measuring cup > >showed milliliters. That's OK. > > > >Try as I might, I can't find this device ANYWHERE. Not on eBay, not > >on my Google searches, noplace. Are these still sold anymore? > > > >-A > > Hello Axlq, > > I don't know if the "single-beam balance" is still sold, though > triple-beam ("trip") balances are readily available. A trip balance > has three beams and three weights; 100g, 10g, 1g is common. > > I had to use trip balances in high school chemistry. Today's > electronic balances are SOOOO much more convenient (trust me; I've > taught chemistry for mumble-mumble years). My electronic kitchen > scale was under $20, and I can do much the same as you did with your > mom's balance. You use what is called a "tare" button on the balance. > > Want to weigh 750 g flour? > --Push ON button. Balance reads 0g. > --Put the cup or bowl on the balance. Now it reads something more, > say 224 g > --Press TARE. The balance again reads 0g. It's automatically > subtracted the weight of your cup/bowl. > --Spoon in flour. When you get close to 750 g, slow down. Stop when > it reads 750 g. Done. > --Need to weigh another ingredient? Just put the new cup/bowl on the > balance and TARE again. Reads zero again. Go for it. > > My scale will weigh up to 5000 grams to plus or minus a gram. When > making bread I can weigh both the flour and the yeast if I want... > > Hope this helps -- Terry I have to concur with Terry. While I do have a triple beam balance (lab surplus), the digital scales we use at work are a lot less hassle. Try ebay. -- Peace, Om Remove _ to validate e-mails. "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
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Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
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Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
"Omelet" > wrote in message ... > In article >, > (Geoff Miller) wrote: > >> axlq > writes: >> >> > I went looking online for kitchen scales today. Lots of digital >> > things, but nothing I am looking for. >> >> >> I'm surprised you can still get them. After all, people might use >> them for making druuuuugs. >> >> >> >> Geoff >> >> -- >> "That's like using a condom *and* abstinence >> to prevent pregnancy." -- Andy Banta > > <snork> They have a lot more uses.. My sister used mine to make soap. Scales or condoms? |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
In article >,
"Pete Fraser" > wrote: > "Omelet" > wrote in message > ... > > In article >, > > (Geoff Miller) wrote: > > > >> axlq > writes: > >> > >> > I went looking online for kitchen scales today. Lots of digital > >> > things, but nothing I am looking for. > >> > >> > >> I'm surprised you can still get them. After all, people might use > >> them for making druuuuugs. > >> > >> > >> > >> Geoff > >> > >> -- > >> "That's like using a condom *and* abstinence > >> to prevent pregnancy." -- Andy Banta > > > > <snork> They have a lot more uses.. My sister used mine to make soap. > > Scales or condoms? Triple beam Balance scale. Beast. ;-) -- Peace, Om Remove _ to validate e-mails. "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
I really appreciate all the replies.
However, I wasn't looking for a triple-beam balance or a digital scale; I know where to get those, and I came across dozens while searching for the specific single-beam balance scale I described, which balances on your countertop. Although I'll probably end up getting a digital scale for $30 or so, I was interested in this cheap plastic beam balance scale mostly for sentimental reasons (because my Mom used one for over 40 years) and partly for its engineering simplicity and elegance. -A In article >, axlq > wrote: > > measuring > \ cup / sliding > \ / pivot counterweight > \__/ ____ ____ > |===============| |=======#### > balance beam \/ |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
axlq wrote:
> Although I'll probably end up getting a digital scale for $30 or so, > I was interested in this cheap plastic beam balance scale mostly for > sentimental reasons (because my Mom used one for over 40 years) and > partly for its engineering simplicity and elegance. > > -A > > In article >, axlq > wrote: >> measuring >> \ cup / sliding >> \ / pivot counterweight >> \__/ ____ ____ >> |===============| |=======#### >> balance beam \/ Its been a few years but I recall seeing them in catalogs geared to science and brain toy type catalogs. Have you tried a teacher supply store or catalog? |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
axlq > wrote:
> For the past 40 years my mother had (from Germany) this incredibly > useful kitchen scale. It needed no batteries, had no moving > mechanism (just a couple parts you move yourself), simple to > operate, fool-proof, etc. Is this anything like what you are looking for? <http://www.pennscale.com/bakers_scales.htm> <http://www.pennscale.com/heirloom_scales.htm> Victor |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
On Aug 13, 12:13?am, (axlq) wrote:
> I went looking online for kitchen scales today. Lots of digital > things, but nothing I am looking for. > > For the past 40 years my mother had (from Germany) this incredibly > useful kitchen scale. It needed no batteries, had no moving > mechanism (just a couple parts you move yourself), simple to > operate, fool-proof, etc. > > The whole thing was plastic. It consisted of a measuring cup at > one end of a balance beam, a counterweight at the other end, and a > sliding pivot in the middle, on which the whole scale would balance > on your countertop. The sliding piece had a small bubble-level in > it. Well, not all plastic; the counterweight clearly had some metal > in it and the bubble-level contained liquid. > > You set the sliding thing to point at the weight you want (written > on the balance beam) and fill the measuring cup with ingredients > until the bubble-level shows it's balanced. The scale will then be > sitting on your countertop rocking back and forth on the sliding > pivot. In ASCII art (fixed-width font) it looked something like > this: > > measuring > \ cup / sliding adjustable > \ / pivot counterweight > \__/ ____ ____ > |===============| |=======#### > balance beam \/ > > Of course, being from Germany, the weights on the balance beam were > marked off in grams, and the volume increments on the measuring cup > showed milliliters. That's OK. > > Try as I might, I can't find this device ANYWHERE. Not on eBay, not > on my Google searches, noplace. Are these still sold anymore? Don't know why you would want one other than as a conversation piece, but they are readily available. I think for general kitchen use a mechanical dial scale is most advantageous. Digital scales are good too but unless you use it often you'll still be changing worn batterys and for nothing. http://www.fantes.com/scales.htm#balance Sheldon |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
Victor Sack > wrote:
>axlq > wrote: >> For the past 40 years my mother had (from Germany) this incredibly >> useful kitchen scale. It needed no batteries, had no moving >> mechanism (just a couple parts you move yourself), simple to >> operate, fool-proof, etc. >Is this anything like what you are looking for? I get the impression the OP is describing a balance with no base, in which the knife-edge lay directly upon a surface such as a counter. Steve |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
In article >,
Steve Pope > wrote: >Victor Sack > wrote: > >>axlq > wrote: > >>> For the past 40 years my mother had (from Germany) this incredibly >>> useful kitchen scale. It needed no batteries, had no moving >>> mechanism (just a couple parts you move yourself), simple to >>> operate, fool-proof, etc. > >>Is this anything like what you are looking for? > >I get the impression the OP is describing a balance with no >base, in which the knife-edge lay directly upon a surface such >as a counter. Exactly! The "knife edge" is actually a rounded thing, and you slide it along the beam to balance it. The beam has weight readings written along its top, and the knife-edge slider thing has a mark on it so you can read the weight. -A |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
In article .com>,
Sheldon > wrote: > >Don't know why you would want one other than as a conversation piece, >but they are readily available. Where? Mind you, this is a single beam balance with no base, in which the balance point (knife-edge, pivot, whatever you call it) rests on the countertop. It's even more efficient than a beam balance with a base (less moving parts, and less total parts), lightweight and compact. >I think for general kitchen use a mechanical dial scale is most >advantageous. Digital scales are good too but unless you use it >often you'll still be changing worn batterys and for nothing. Well, I *did* run across a digital scale that has no batteries; you simply twist part of it, and that action charges a capacitor sufficiently to power the unit long enough to tare the scale and weigh something. Pretty cool concept: http://www.designboom.com/contest/vi...em_pk=7832&p=1 ....but, unfortunately, only a concept at this time. Not for sale. -A |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
On Aug 12, 9:13 pm, (axlq) wrote: > You set the sliding thing to point at the weight you want (written > on the balance beam) and fill the measuring cup with ingredients > until the bubble-level shows it's balanced. The scale will then be > sitting on your countertop rocking back and forth on the sliding > pivot. In ASCII art (fixed-width font) it looked something like > this: > > measuring > \ cup / sliding adjustable > \ / pivot counterweight > \__/ ____ ____ > |===============| |=======#### > balance beam \/ > > Of course, being from Germany, the weights on the balance beam were > marked off in grams, and the volume increments on the measuring cup > showed milliliters. That's OK. > > Try as I might, I can't find this device ANYWHERE. Not on eBay, not > on my Google searches, noplace. Are these still sold anymore? If the cup holds no more than 125g, you want a Dr. Oetker Klein- Balkenwaage (Small balance scale). I see there's one offered online for $3.99. Mine was $10.50 back in the day. Dr. Oetker has gone all- electronic now, unfortunately. You might want to check homebrewing stores for battery-free scales -- that's where I originally got mine. And, of course, head shops. |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
(axlq) wrote:
> Sheldon wrote: > > >Don't know why you would want one other than as a conversation piece, > >but they are readily available. > > Where? I included a link... perhaps your contacts are in backwards. |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
In article .com>,
Sheldon > wrote: >(axlq) wrote: >> Sheldon wrote: >> >> >Don't know why you would want one other than as a conversation piece, >> >but they are readily available. >> >> Where? > >I included a link... perhaps your contacts are in backwards. I did look at that link, thanks. The page didn't show what I described. The balance beam I described was a single beam with no base; it balances on the countertop. -A |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
In article . com>,
> wrote: >If the cup holds no more than 125g, you want a Dr. Oetker Klein- >Balkenwaage (Small balance scale). I see there's one offered online >for $3.99. Mine was $10.50 back in the day. Dr. Oetker has gone all- >electronic now, unfortunately. Hm. A google search for "Dr. Oetker" "klein balkenwaage" didn't turn anything up. Thanks though. I do believe it held more than 125g though. The cup on the end of the beam held about 2 cups, I recall. That's about 400 ml, which if filled with water would be 400g. -A |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
In article >, axlq > wrote:
>Hm. A google search for "Dr. Oetker" "klein balkenwaage" didn't turn >anything up. Thanks though. I do believe it held more than 125g >though. The cup on the end of the beam held about 2 cups, I recall. >That's about 400 ml, which if filled with water would be 400g. I susepct your scale is a pretty obscure item. Nothing like it turns up on any search. Steve |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
On Aug 16, 2:08?pm, (axlq) wrote:
> In article .com>, > > Sheldon > wrote: > >(axlq) wrote: > >> Sheldon wrote: > > >> >Don't know why you would want one other than as a conversation piece, > >> >but they are readily available. > > >> Where? > > >I included a link... perhaps your contacts are in backwards. > > I did look at that link, thanks. The page didn't show what I described. > The balance beam I described was a single beam with no base; it balances > on the countertop. Something at least 40 years old and made of plastic is very likely no longer made, probably made only one run that year. If you could supply a brand name, and/or a picture then perhaps folks could be more helpful. Even ebay had nothing fitting your description. |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
In article . com>,
Sheldon > wrote: >Something at least 40 years old and made of plastic is very likely no >longer made, probably made only one run that year. If you could >supply a brand name, and/or a picture then perhaps folks could be more >helpful. Even ebay had nothing fitting your description. I know. :( I've been hunting around for a picture, and failing to find one. The ASCII art I posted is the best I could do. I have seen these for sale as recently as 5 years ago (don't remember if new or used). Wen I said my Mom has had one for 40 years, that doesn't mean the product was available 40 years ago and not more recently. My wife insists she has seen them in stores in Singapore. -A |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
On Aug 16, 2:07 pm, (axlq) wrote:
> In article . com>, > > Sheldon > wrote: > >Something at least 40 years old and made of plastic is very likely no > >longer made, probably made only one run that year. If you could > >supply a brand name, and/or a picture then perhaps folks could be more > >helpful. Even ebay had nothing fitting your description. > > I know. :( I've been hunting around for a picture, and failing to > find one. The ASCII art I posted is the best I could do. > > I have seen these for sale as recently as 5 years ago (don't > remember if new or used). Wen I said my Mom has had one for 40 > years, that doesn't mean the product was available 40 years ago and > not more recently. My wife insists she has seen them in stores in > Singapore. > > -A If you want 500 g, this looks like what you want. Searching "balkenwaage" on eBay.de turned up this ex-commie kitchen scale: http://cgi.ebay.de/Original-DDR-Balk...QQcmdZViewItem Shipping to the US will be extra -- you'll have to contact the guy. |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
On Aug 17, 1:09 pm, wrote (to axlq):
> > If you want 500 g, this looks like what you want. Searching > "balkenwaage" on eBay.de turned up this ex-commie kitchen scale:http://cgi.ebay.de/Original-DDR-Balk...VEB-Solidus_W0... > > Shipping to the US will be extra -- you'll have to contact the guy.- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - This is the smaller one I was talking about; the one just like mine, on eBay.com http://cgi.ebay.com/Dr-Oetker-Mini-S...QQcmdZViewItem |
Looking for my Mom's kitchen scale
In article .com>,
> wrote: >On Aug 17, 1:09 pm, wrote (to axlq): >This is the smaller one I was talking about; the one just like mine, >on eBay.com > >http://cgi.ebay.com/Dr-Oetker-Mini-S...QQcmdZViewItem THAT'S IT!!! At least, that's what looks like what my Mom had, only I'm pretty sure hers had a bigger cup on the end; I recall it held 300-400 ml. Thanks. At least I know what to look for now. It figures my Mom would have it too (she's German). All these years, I didn't realize it was a German product, because she bought it here in the U.S. Big picture to compare with my ASCII art at the beginning of this thread: http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/view...?vvid=61251352 -A |
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