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A small spring balance for measuring weights up to 25lbs, and calibrated in half pounds. It is inscribed 'Hughes's // Pocket Balance // Patent'. It was found by the donor in his father's shed in Ashburton, Devon, while clearing it out after his father's death in 1983. It is one of a number of objects found in the shed by the donor and donated to MERL (object numbers 83/98-83/128).

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Recorder: JMB // Date: 13.12.83 // Description: A small spring balance calibrated in half pounds to measure up to 25 lbs. // Inscription: HUGHES’S // POCKET BALANCE // PATENT // Dimensions: Length: 18.0 cm’, Letter, MERL to Roger Plumb, 10 October 1983 – 'Dear Mr Plumb, // Thank you for leaving the boxes of items at the Museum recently. We have kept some of the objects, one (the telephone) has been passed on to the Science Museum, the rest, being of no interest, we have discarded. // Yours sincerely, // Roy D Brigden // Keeper, Museum of English Rural Life'