C.O.C.A. Times

NATIONAL NOVELTY SCALE
Circa 19 02
by JIM and MERLYN COLLINGS
The National Novelty Co. scale was
The National Novelty scale
put on location around 1902, (photo was painted with different color
1 ). This is a fairly scarce scale that combinations throughout the
was manufactured two years after the years. Its original color was prob-
National Weighing Machine Co. scale, ably silver. The scale is 72-inches
(refer to C.O.C.A. Times, Vol. 7, Issue in height. The base measures,
2 - July 2006), which was our last ar- 13-1/2-inches wide by 25-inches
ticle. The National Novelty scale has deep. The marquee is 7-1/2-inch-
some similarities to its predecessor that es high and says: Your Correct
was made in 1900. The
Weight One Cent. When a pen-
marquee is built into its
ny is inserted, the dial indicator
head, the face is paper-
"jumps" to the correct weight of
Photo 4
faced on tin, the bezel
the patron. Directly below the head is a plain flat area
is beaded, the column is
for attaching vendor information or for advertising. Of-
tapered having a smaller
ten times, the space was painted over, (photo 4).
diameter at the top, and
As mentioned earlier, the dial is paper-faced over
there is a decorative de-
tin. Around 1910 many of the National dials or faces
sign in the middle of the
were porcelainized. This
column.
original dial reads: Na-
Photo I
The National Nov-
tional Novelty Co. Min-
elty scale from 1902 does differ from
neapolis, Minn. Included
the earlier scale, as it has a round pipe-
are the height and weight
like column partially decorated with a
charts near the middle
14-inch filigree embossment, (photo 2).
Photo 2
of
the dial. The dial in-
It also differs from its
predecessor by having dicator has a three-leaf
Photo 5
clover at the opposite end of
"lion" feet near the rear
the pointer. The weight limit
of the base, (photo 3).
The "lion" feet help to
is 295. The bezel surrounding
stabilize the scale. No-
the face or dial has a wonder-
tice in photo 3 that there
ful beaded design, (photo 5).
are three rare vending
This scale design certainly in-
machines on top of the
fluenced the later 1910 Mills
bookcase. From left to
"Standard" Weighing scale (re-
right: the Caille 1907
fer to C.O.C.A. Times, Vol. 4,
Model B Perfect Ven-
Photo 6
Issue 3 - July 2004).
dor peanut machine,
The beaded footplate on this National scale reads:
the "Chicago" peanut Made by National Novelty Co. Mpls. Minn., (photo 6).
machine and the Caille
This National Novelty scale shows how changes had
1905 Model A pea- evolved at the turn of the century. This entire scale from
nut machine. All three top to bottom is a great example of early Americana.
of these machines are
HAPPY SCALE COLLECTING!
copper-flashed as is the
Photo 3
National Novelty scale.
26