ALICE-LEWIS SCALES PAGE

I hope you will find something of interest in my World of  Scales Dreams and perhaps in some little way I can help you to achieve your Dreams.

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Introduction

 I am Graham, I  am a retired Bank Manager, currently fully occupied as a full time carer for my wife, who suffers from Tuberous Sclerosis. My interest in Scales goes back nearly 40 years, have owned various odd and quirky items during that period of time. However with space a premium, I have concentrated over the past few years, with SOVEREIGN BALANCES  and in particular the STANDARD ROCKERS. As any collector in this field will know they are small, easy to maintain and relatively inexpensive.

Please not that the information provided here, is from my own Collection.

Shown below is a signature piece from my collection.

Although not a Sovereign Rocker, is of significant interest and rarely seen with this number of weights.

I have detailed above the weights occurring in the set shown, which may be of interest to Visitors, they are set into a metal insert in the case, which is black colour on the top, but the inside edge to the scales location is a vibrant red. I guess that it was probably made for a Continental Gold Dealer. During my nearly five years of watching on E-bay I have never seen any more than six weights, from this I judge that the complete set must be fairly rare or even unique, however the following have appeared on E-bay:-

1. December 2006 a similar box, without any weights sold for £56.

2. August 2008 another with five weights and another incorrect weight sold for £211.

f any visitors have seen a set like this I would be very interested to hear from you, through the e-mail address at the bottom of this page.

*These weights occurred as a result of Act of Parliament 10 May 1774(14 Geo111, C70), however Sir John Clapham writes in 1970 in his Bank of England Volume 1, that the mint undertook re-coinage for a period of 4 years from 1774, so these low weight Coin Weights, would have become obsolete almost certainly by 1780 as most underweight coins would have been withdrawn by that date and there fore I conclude that this set of Scales and Weights could date within the period 1774 and 1780.

I must say at this point, I am not and make no claim to be an expert, the purpose of these page on my web site, is to share with other, the many different shapes and make of Rockers which exist. Harrison, Simmons and Smith Rockers occur quite regularly on E-bay, with maybe 1 a week being listed . From this you will appreciate that patience is of the foremost importance when collecting, these little guys.

Finally I would like to thank Michael's widow, Diana for her encouragement in putting this site together and her permission to use certain pictures, she may be contacted in her role as Secretary for ISASC Europe at the address below.

My reference book for this Collection is:-

SOVEREIGN BALANCES 1-STANDARD ROCKERS

by MICHAEL A CRAWFORTH

OXFORD 1984(REVISED 2001)

Copies of the 3rd revised edition may be obtained by contact with the following:-

 Email lehitchins@aol.com

BACKGROUND

The English Sovereign rocker was a popular counterfeit coin detector of the 19th Century. It was simple in design, attractive, easy to carry, being pocket sized. It was of strong construction, with only one moving part and therefore little could go wrong. These benefits combined with the low price, made it an attractive instrument for both businesses and members of the public, to protect themselves against counterfeit/under weight gold coinage. They come in many different styles, with various names, being either those of the manufacturer or the retailer, records are so scanty, that it would now be almost impossible to discern which category applied. They were manufactured in substantial number, but all have a characteristic design, decoratively shaped flat brass beam, with integral heel shaped poise and two round shaped platters. They were introduced when the sovereign was re-established in 1817. However the principle was know to exist many centuries earlier.

In my mind there are a number of areas in which a collection can be built:-

Boxed Scales-Named Scales-Un named Scales-Irregular design Scales

PLEASE USE THIS LINK TO GO TO MY SOVEREIGN ROCKERS HOME PAGE

I PLAN TO LINK OTHER PICTURES AND ITEMS OF MEMORABILIA AS TIME PERMITS

Disclaimer

Here is a link to my 'me' page on e-bay

http://members.ebay.co.uk/aboutme/alice-lewis/

Immediately below are links  to the ISASC web site.

For those Collectors interested in Weights

http://home.clara.net/brianp/isasc.html

For those Collectors interested in Scales

http://www.isasce.com/

From time to time Howard & Frances Simmons of Simmons Gallery hold Mail Bid Auctions, with Scales and Weights featuring in some quantity. If you are interested you may use the following link:-

 www.simmonsgallery.co.uk

Finally I would like to thank everybody, who have taken the time and trouble to read my thoughts and I sincerely hope in some little way I have helped you to achieve your own World of Dreams

Free counters provided by Andale.

Contact Graham also the Webmaster at

william.cooper24@virgin.net

Copyright © 1995 - 2008 ALICE-LEWIS. All rights reserved.  Last revised: 28 August 2008