Chondrometer; Bryan Corcoran Ltd.; c1870's; OT.2009.28
Chondrometer
About this object
This pendulum scale was created to measure the weight density of grain bushels and was also known as a Grain Weight Tester. It likely would have been used to determine the money given to farmers for their crop yields. It was found in the office effects of Otautau Town Clerk and Businessman/Agent John Fisher (1863-1950).
A bushel is a standardised volume measurement that equals 8 gallons (approximately 30 litres), and different grains had different standard weight measurements for this volume. Wheat is expected to be 60 pounds per bushel (27 kgs), barley should be 50 lbs (22 kgs), and oats 40 lbs (18 kgs).
This particular device is unusual in that it's a pendulum scale, which was used to weigh letters much more often than grain.
(Copyright status relates to the photos shown here, not the object itself)
Manufacturer
Date Madec1870's
Place MadeEurope, United Kingdom, England, London
Medium and Materials
inorganic, processed material, metal, alloy, brass (?)
organic, vegetal, processed material, wood
h 395 mm x w 290 mm x d 220 mm
Subject and Association Keywords Object Type Object numberOT.2009.28
Copyright Licence
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