"A common scale-beam, used for weighing, is a lever, suspended at the centre of gravity, so that the two arms balance each other. Hence the machine is called a balance. The fulcrum, or what is called the pivot, is sharpended, like a wedge, and made of hardened steel, so as much as possible to avoid friction." -Comstock 1850

Scale

"A common scale-beam, used for weighing, is a lever, suspended at the centre of gravity, so that the…