Item Report
American Art Deco Cast Iron & Nickel-Plated Coin-Operated 'The Watling Scale' Standing Public Weighing Machine
By: The Watling Scale Company (Chicago, IL)
Style: Art Deco, Industrial Americana
Origin: United States
Materials: Cast iron, nickel-plated metal, glass, painted steel
Age: Circa 1920-1940
Condition: Fair (incomplete, corrosion, heavy surface wear, missing/loose components)
Value: $100–$250 at auction (incomplete/needs restoration). A fully functional, restored example might fetch $400–$700.
Maker's Marks / Writing: 'THE WATLING SCALE' prominent at the top of dial; 'THE WATLING SCALE CO. CHICAGO, U.S.A.' at bottom of dial.
Date: 2025-06-24 09:24:00.432689
Description:
This is an early 20th-century American standing public weighing machine produced by The Watling Scale Company of Chicago. Featuring ornate Art Deco styling around the dial, the scale is predominantly made of cast iron with a decorative nickel-plated bezel and a large painted dial marked 'The Watling Scale.' The machine would have been coin-operated, found in locations like pharmacies, train stations, and public lobbies, allowing users to weigh themselves for a small fee. The piece currently appears incomplete, with the weighing platform visible but detached, and noticeable losses and corrosion to the painted body.
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
A classic example of early public weighing technology with striking Art Deco design elements, but this particular scale is incomplete, with the platform detached and significant paint, surface, and glass deterioration. Still, it retains significant decorative and industrial nostalgia value for collectors or as a restoration project. A word about fakes: Authentic Watling Scales are frequently reproduced, but true antiques display correct dial graphics, robust heavy construction, and era-consistent hardware and wear; this example appears authentic but in well-used, unrestored condition.
Individual Images:
- The primary image clearly shows a detached weighing mechanism and dial
- exposing the platform. Nickel-plated bezel and glass are tarnished
- and the lower dial cover is separated with dirt accumulation inside. Evidence of corrosion and paint loss on the iron body
- and a missing coin operation area. These all indicate an unrestored state
- but also typical aging and authenticity markers.
Provenance:
No provenance documents are visible in the submitted image.
Condition:
Fair (incomplete, corrosion, heavy surface wear, missing/loose components)
Identification Score: 98%
Nearly complete identification based on distinctive dial, known maker, and typical Art Deco form. The label, styling, and maker all match historical records for Watling public scales.
Authenticity Score: 75%
The scale exhibits typical period construction, correct graphics, appropriate wear, and maker information, strongly supporting authenticity. Absence of restoration and presence of authentic dial further support genuineness, but a rise in high-quality reproductions (mainly for decorative use) tempers a perfect score.
Image Memory Note
Noteworthy for its classic Art Deco faceplate, incomplete original configuration (detached weighing platform and base), and visible signs of aging and use; useful for potential restoration or as found décor.
Keywords
Watling, public scale, Art Deco, standing scale, coin-operated, cast iron, Americana, industrial, United States
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