Watling ''Gambler" Scale - ca. 1929
by Jim and Merlyn Collings
The Gambler is truly a beautiful "lollipop" scale
with a unique gambling device (photo 1). On the
right of the head are 3 slots where the patron
deposits a penny. The words Drop Coin Here are
embossed next to the diagonal slots (photo 2). At
the top of the scale head, on a maroon background,
are the embossed directions which states: You Get
Your I Correct Weight - Free - If You Put Coin/ In
Correct Slot (photo 3). This modified rim of the
scale is distinctly different than the earlier 1918
(Model II) Guessing scale. On the bottom rim of the
scale head are the raised letters which read: Tested
With U.S. I Standard Weights. If the patron guesses
the correct slot the lucky penny will be returned in
the money cup below (photo 4). Directly above the
money cup are the embossed letters that read Coin
Return Here.
Around 1929 the Watling
Gambler scale was made for a
limited time since it did not have a
hinged front door. This made it
difficult for the scale mechanic to
work on. A non-coin or free play
model also had limited produc-
tion. This Gymnasium model was
not practical because it lacked a
hinged front door as well.
j
The Gambler scale is one of our
favorite pieces. It became part of
our collection 25 years ago. It's
large "lollipop" head has a diame-
ter of 24" in order to house the
counter balance mechanism
which is very large. The counter bal-
Photo 5
ance became an important inovation instead of
using springs. In many cases the springs wore out
and they lost their tension and accuracy. The
Gambler scale is 71" tall and in white porcelain.
The Toledo Scale Co. prided themselves by having
the first Big Head with a counter balance mecha-
nism (see vol. 3, issue 9 of the C.O.C.A. Times). In
1914, however, Tom Watling boasted that this "Big
Head" counter balance scale with the penny back
feature, was the first scale of this type. The debate
goes on!
Photo 3
Photo 2
In 1918, the Watling Scale (style II
Guesser) had 3 horizontal coin
slots, (one right above the other)
for guessing; at the top of the head,
unlike the 1929 Gambler (photo 6)
the 3 slots were transferred from
Photo 6
the top to the right side of the head,
on the Gambler. This variation occurred when the
hinged front door was replaced by a solid porcelain
border in 1929. The etched glass with the visible
mechanism makes the "big head" quite attractive. It
Photo 4
Photo 1
An even earlier version of the Gambler scale did not
use the money cup, instead a hole was used in the
column to retrieve the lucky penny. This caused
serious problems as some people got their finger
caught in the hole. In some cases the operator would
have to break the scale column to free the belea-
gered patron. This scale variation is very scarce
(photo 5).
8