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72v1 CONSTRUCTION OF WEIGHTS - Printable Version

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72v1 CONSTRUCTION OF WEIGHTS - Wladimir D - 11-12-2017

 In the aid of Koen, I want to separately discuss the sign of the scales in the MV.
These are not ordinary pharmacy scales, which are attached with a rope (hook) to a vertical stand, or they are held by of the hook the hand .
  I believe that this is scales with a pre-adjusted neutral position (for weighing small masses of elements). The cog in the reciprocating-lever (in scale-beam)  of the scales is placed in the conical recess of the vertical rack.
Equilibrium is achieved by selecting loads that are attached to the vertical connecting rod. Equilibrium will be obtained when the arrow and connecting rod are parallel. A similar scheme of scales is depicted in the Egyptian figure of Osiris.
Of course, it would be simpler to achieve equilibrium by putting a counterweight directly into the cup, but this design of the scales eliminates the fear that the counterweight material will react (contaminate)  the substance to be weighed. Especially when the substance to be weighed is a liquid (acid).
   

RE: 72v1 CONSTRUCTION OF WEIGHTS - Searcher - 11-12-2017

I think, maybe, it is just such a construction :
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RE: 72v1 CONSTRUCTION OF WEIGHTS - Searcher - 11-12-2017

Especially this one. Book of Hours, MS M.131 fol. 4v 
[Image: 80077a650a762e52d9528ec4ea0bd6e6--libra-...r-baby.jpg]

RE: 72v1 CONSTRUCTION OF WEIGHTS - -JKP- - 11-12-2017

Searcher, that's a good example.

I think that one might be a metal bar all the way across and the VMS MIGHT be a wooden dowel with spikes/rods at the ends, but... the VMS drawing is not expert, so it's hard to know for sure.


I have five hundred zodiac scales, but many of them are very tiny or roughly drawn. I'll have to see how many different styles are represented (it's quite a few) and how many are clear enough to discern their mechanics.

RE: 72v1 CONSTRUCTION OF WEIGHTS - Wladimir D - 11-12-2017

If the balance should be kept from above, then it would not be necessary to draw a tooth on the balance beam.

RE: 72v1 CONSTRUCTION OF WEIGHTS - -JKP- - 11-12-2017

I'm looking through the scales specifically associated with zodiacs that are clear enough to see some of the details (about 120 out of 500+). They range from c. 1009 to c. 1554. These are mostly in manuscripts, although a few are architectural.

Most of them have dowels, beams (squared-off dowels), or metal rods.

Some highlights:
  • The early ones don't usually extend far beyond the cords/chains.
  • Eyelets are seen in early medieval times in several regions (Spain, France, Austria, Middle East)
  • Hildegard von Bingen's Libra looks like it might have a bolt through the wood to secure the chains. There are only a couple of others drawn to show bolts.
  • By the 13th century, there seem to be more scales where the rod extends beyond the attachment point for the chains.
  • There are manuscripts from Augsburg, Cologne, and Austria from the 13th century that are drawn with several cords tied over the top of the rod. This style is brief and not frequently seen again until the early 15th century in France.
  • By the 14th century, some of the scales have bulbous ends.
  • Hooks become more common in the early 15th century and eyelets are not infrequent, and increase in frequency by the mid-1400s.
  • An early Middle Eastern Libra, and some of the German and French manuscripts from c. 1170 and from the 1400s show how the cords are spun together for an inch or two before separating into three separate cords.
An 11th century Arabic Libra, one thought to be from Italy, Vat. Pal. Lat. 1368 and Vat Lat. 3121 (also a later mid-16th c from Germany), are drawn similarly to the squarish top connector/spike on the VMS, as is another from Germany that came later (mid-16th century).

That's all the time I have. Gotta run.

RE: 72v1 CONSTRUCTION OF WEIGHTS - Searcher - 11-12-2017

Possibly, a fragment with links to images from You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. will be useful:
  • Tacuinum Sanitatis (BNF Nouvelle acquisition latine 1673), c. 1390-1400: merchants selling You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 58), You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 66), You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 81), and You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 81v)

  • You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., De proprietatibus rerum (BNF Fr. 216, fol. 338), 14th-15th century

  • Tacuinum Sanitatis (BNF Latin 9333), 15th century: merchants selling You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 44), You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 58v), You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 80v), You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 89), and You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 91)

  • You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., a missal (ÖNB 1850, fol. 5r), c. 1411-1419

  • Examples in the Mendel Hausbuch include: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (c. 1425), You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (1453), You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (1495), You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (1528), You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (1533)

  • A You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 76v), a You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 131r), and another You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (fol. 154v), Schachzabelbuch (ÖNB 3049), 1479
As I see, that's usual 14-15 c. scales (and their depictions).

RE: 72v1 CONSTRUCTION OF WEIGHTS - Wladimir D - 11-12-2017

If there was an attempt to draw a rocker with an arrow and  trunnion in mutually perpendicular planes, then there is no hint of an axis passing through two ears of trunnion on which the rocker should rock.
This can only happen if the artist has never seen the scales (copied from another source) and he raised the ear of the trunnion too high (above the rocker).
JKP / Please publish examples with a square trunnion and a tooth.

   

RE: 72v1 CONSTRUCTION OF WEIGHTS - Koen G - 11-12-2017

Thank you,  Wladimir, observant as always. If we can assume that the drawing is correct, then your proposal does explain some strange features. Do you know if this design was still used in later periods?

RE: 72v1 CONSTRUCTION OF WEIGHTS - Searcher - 11-12-2017

One more You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (earlier) :
[Image: merchants-weighing-produce-on-scales-min...d112190488]