Jones of Binghampton Postal Scale

Q I found an old scale and I’m having a difficult time finding out about it. It’s cast iron and has a beam with weights. The base is marked ”Property of the U.S. Postal Dept.” in a circle and the beam has ”Jones of Binghamton.” I want to auction it for charity, but don’t want to offer it without a rough value.

A The history of your scale should encourage a good price at auction. Edward F. Jones (1828-1913) was born in Utica, N.Y., and grew up in New England. He fought in the Civil War before moving to Binghamton to open a scale manufacturing plant. Jones Scale Works was established in 1865. The name was changed to Jones of Binghamton in 1876. The company made many types of scales?for farmers’ hay and grain, coal, cotton and merchandise. Jones served as police commissioner, parks commissioner, Lieutenant Governor of New York. His son took over the business when Jones became blind at the age of 79. He died in 1913 and the company operated until about 1916. Collectors love old scales. You have a countertop platform scale. It has a small scoop on a platform on the top for weighing letters and a larger platform on the bottom for packages or bulk mail. It could weigh items from 1/2 ounce to 240 pounds. Your countertop platform is worth $90 to $110.