C.O.C.A. Times

Talking Scale cl904
The cast iron Talking Scale
is a very unique scale. It is ex-
tremely scarce and rare! (Photo
1). Unfortunately most of these
scales broke down due to the
sensitive mechanism. The idea of
the Talking Scale first originated
in England in the . late 19th cen-
tury. In 1902 George A. Moore
invented, patented, and designed
the Weighing or "Talking" Scale.
George A. Moore submitted 7 de-
tailed patents from June 24, 1902
to Oct. 18, 1904. These patents
included the WEIGHING MA-
CHINE 1902, PHONOGRAPH
1902, PHONOGRAPHIC RE-
CORD 1902, PHONOGRAPH-
IC SOUNDER 1902, WEIGH-
ING
MACHINE
1903,
ANNOUNCING MACHINE
1904 & COIN-OPERATED
WEIGHING
MACHINE
Photo]
1904. The Moore Talking
Machine Co. was established in
Boston. Eventually it became the American Talking
Scale Co. of New York City. The Talking Scale concept
was also adopted by the Lister Co. The United Vending
Machine Co. of Cleveland, Ohio in 1908 bought the
rights to the Talking Scale. It was hoped the "sensitive
mechanical" problems
could be improved upon
by the United Vending
Machine Co.
The unique mecha-
nism of the Talking Scale
consisted mainly of an
"old-fashioned"
tone
arm and a 1 0" specially
grooved and calibrated
record (Photo 2). To op-
erate the scale mecha-
nism the patron stands
by Jim & Merlyn
Collings
Photo3b
on the footplate and presses
the lever downward after de-
positing a nickel. When this
is done; the record will make
one revolution; as the tone
arm is engaged the scale then
"Speaks" the patrons weight
(Photo 3). The Talking Scale
measures 77" tall and 17"
wide. Some of the brass foot-
plates read: "MOORE TALK-
ING SCALE" (Photo 3b). The
top of the Talking Scale has a
blue & wh ite porcelain mar-
quee which reads: "I SPEAK
YOUR WEIGHT" 5¢ (Photo
Photo3
4). Two openings near the
marquee act as "sound slots" so
the weight can be heard (Photo 4). The coin slot is lo-
cated above the directions which read: DIRECTIONS-
"PULL DOWN HOOK IF UP"/"STAND STILL"/
"INSERT COIN"/"STEP OFF BEFORE WEIGHING
AGAIN"/"LIMIT 250 POUNDS" (Photo 5). The scale
column or case has an embossed ribbon which reads:
"TALKING SCALE". Also pictured on the ribbon is a
balance scale (Photo 6). Many of these scale columns
were painted in a va,riety of colors which include: Sil-
ver/Gold, Blue/Light Blue & Cream/Blue (Photo 7).
There were several variations of the Talking Scale.
Some of these included a shorter model with an oak
case, a brass megaphone-type horn on top and a window
showing the record mechanism (Photo 8). This varia-
tion was created around 1915 by the United Vending
Photo2
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