A 20lbs standard verification balance by W & T Avery of Birmingham, dated 1908.

Made for the City Borough of Blackpool.

Lever marked: W & T AVERY Ltd BIRMINGHAM PATENT 24269-06

Front of beam engraved: To Weight 20 lbs – City Borough of Blackpool

Back of beam engraved: W & T. Avery Ld. – Birmingham

Pans marked with Royal ciphers: ER, GvR, GviR, and EiiR.

Height: 96 cm.

Width: 82 cm.

Depth: 49 cm.

W & T Avery Ltd. was a British manufacturer of weighing machines. Established by William and Thomas Avery when they inherited a scale making business in 1813. They took the name W & T Avery in 1818. In 1891 the business became a limited company, in 1894 the shares were quoted on the London Stock Exchange. In 1895 the company bought the legendary Soho Foundry in Smethwick, a former steam engine factory owned by James Watt & Co. In 1897 the move was complete and the steam engine business was gradually converted to the manufacture of weighing machines.