Posted 10 years ago
Brian242
(1 item)
This is a Gump platform scale that was in an old grain elevator. It is in working condition and has all the weights. It has state certification stickers up to when the elevator was closed 15 years ago. It appears to have “E41” cast into one upright and “”E40” cast into the other. It is about 44 inches wide and 64 inches tall. Unlike many platform scales, the base is built into the floor. Perhaps this was to make it easier to wheel bags of grain on and off the scale. As a result, I cannot see if it has a normal base with wheels as do many platform type scales. I am intrigued by this scale as I have seen a lot of Fairbanks and some Howe platform scales for sale but have not seen a “Gump”, so I thought it might be somewhat rare.
Research "B.F. Gump Company" - apparently they were a resale supplier (based in Chicago) of feed mill machinery circa 1920's.
Brian, The "Gump" name is interesting and I have never heard of it, but I can identify the maker of the scale based on one I have like it. The Company is Gaston, and they were a Canadien company. The legs are the key clue, as they are semi-hemispherical, with that pattern of diamonds on the inside of them as a nice design element. The other elements; The weight holder, the wooden bench, and the forged armature, are also from Gaston and are identical to the one I have. The
type of scale with the base at floor level, is called a dormant warehouse scale. If it has a square hole in the middle of it, that is called a hopper scale and the hopper, for grain would have rested on top of it. Here is my Flickr photostream of old grain elevators, It has some photos of your type of scale. A nice find! Phil
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chumbroflipper/
Recently purchased a Gump scale and box that was used by farmers in the 30's, 40's, 50's. Am looking for parts . Would you have parts for sale or would you know where I could get scale parts? Thank you. pjkedley@fbcom.net