Sturdy Salter Pocket Balance Scale, 112 lb. No. 3 Model | Brass Face with Mint Green Backplate

For the tradesman … a fine English 9-inch spring balance (portable scale) by Salter, the renowned British maker.  This No. 3 model dates from the 1940s or 1950s and features a brass faceplate engraved “TO WEIGH 112 LB” — a notably higher capacity than most surviving examples.  Perfectly functional (though not tested for accuracy), it’s a handsome and practical relic of a working man’s kit, with a striking mint green backplate in remarkable condition for its age.  In all, a beautiful display piece for a kitchen, workshop, or study.  

Pocket balances like this were once essential in trade, agriculture, and field work — used by merchants, fishermen, and farmers to weigh sacks of goods, crates, or heavy loads on the go.  This scale’s higher weight limit suggests it was designed for more industrial or agricultural tasks than more common, travel-sized versions.

Salter dates its origins to 1760 in Bilston, Staffordshire, when Richard Salter — originally a clockmaker — turned his attention to spring balances. Over the next century the firm grew into Britain’s foremost manufacturer of weighing devices, with their rugged brass balances in common use across the British Empire. Still active today as Salter Housewares, the company remains a symbol of functional British design and engineering.

Dimensions: 9” x 1-3/4” x 1” (not including ring and hook)
Weight: 1 lb. 0.4 oz.

Condition notes:  excellent vintage condition overall. Brass faceplate shows light surface wear and faint striations from use, consistent with its function as a working tool. Markings — including SALTER’s knot and arrow logo, “POCKET BALANCE,” “MADE IN ENGLAND,” “TO WEIGH 112 LB.,” and “No. 3” — remain crisp and legible. Minimal tarnish present, primarily at edges. Steel hook and top ring are structurally sound and clean, with no deformation or loss. Mint green backplate is remarkably well preserved, with only minor scratches and light surface wear. Scale has been lightly polished.  Not tested for accuracy; recommended for display only. See photos for more detail and feel free to contact the shop with any questions prior to purchase.

Unless noted, all items are hand-wrapped and gift-boxed. We offer flat rate shipping via USPS Ground Advantage for $10, or USPS Priority Mail for $15. Orders over $100 ship free via USPS Priority Mail — any shipping charges for orders over $100 will be refunded after checkout. We pack with safety and care using recycled and recyclable materials whenever possible.