Half Quintal Weight
Battle Harbour National Historic Site
Tous droits réservés.
| Nom de l'objet : | Half Quintal Weight |
| Type de l'objet : | Weight, Balance |
| Classification de l'objet : | Man-made Artefact |
| Catégorie de l'objet : | Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology |
| Sous-catégorie de l'objet : | Weights and Measure Tools & Equipment |
| Discipline : | Industrial History Material Culture |
| Matériaux : | Bronze Paint |
| Technique de fabrication : | Cast Painted |
| Numéro d'accession : | 896 |
| Province d'utilisation : | Newfoundland and Labrador Pre-confederation Newfoundland |
| Pays d'utilisation : | Canada Dominion of Newfoundland |
| Culture : | Canadian Pre-confederation Newfoundland |
| Secteur géo-culturel : | North America |
| Contexte culturel : | Mercantile |
| Date de début de production : | c 1800s |
| Date de fin de production : | c 1900s |
| Période : | Late 19th Century to Mid 20th Century |
| Description : | This artefact is a 56 pound weight. Cast of solid bronze and painted green the weight is bell shaped and has a handle at the top for ease of use. The body of the weight tapers in the center then flares out at the bottom, thus forming the widest point of the weight. The weight is decorated by a number of lines that trace its circumference. The bottom of the weight is flat and unpainted. A hole has deliberately been drilled in the bottom of the weight. |
| Commentaires : | The marked difference in shape of this half quintal weight in comparison with the rectangular weight common throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, has led some to believe the weight to be quite old in origin. Similar examples in England have dated to the early nineteenth century. The hole drilled in the bottom of the weight was a common feature found on many quintal weights, and was a feature that often aroused the suspicions of the local fisherman who felt the merchant was somehow trying to deceive them by altering weight. In actually, weights were cast at different foundries at different times and the different metal compositions or inclusions could affect the weight. Drilling into the weight was one way of removing excess material thus ensuring it was the correct weight. Two 56 pound or half quintal weights would be placed on the scales and the fisherman would be required to 'break' weight, which meant that the fisherman would often have to place a few fish in the scales to ensure they tipped once 112 pounds had been reached. |
| Fonctions : | This weight was used in conjunction with a jig and boom scales for weighing a fisherman's catch. Two such weights were required to make up the 112 pound quintal, the standard unit of weight used in the fishery throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. |
| Hauteur : | 32 |
| Longueur : | 19 |
| Largeur : | 19 |
| Unité de mesure linéaire : | cm |
| Nombre d'objets : | 1 |
| Nombre de parties composantes : | 1 |
| Nom des parties composantes : | Bronze Weight |
| Établissement : |
Battle Harbour National Historic Site
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| Ville de l'établissement : | Battle Harbour |
| Province de l'établissement : | Newfoundland and Labrador |
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