578

Seederer-Kohlbusch Analytical Balance Scale with Weights, NJ - Jersey City,Hudson County

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,500.00 USD
IMPORTANT NOTE ON BUYERS PREMIUMS:

Lot 100 to 343 have a premium of 15%.

The rest of the sale is 19.5% as noted in the listing.

Lot Pick Up: Holabird-Kagin Americana,
3555 Airway Drive Ste #309,
Reno NV 89511,
Sunday - December 9, 10am-4pm
c1908 - A very clean Seederer-Kohlbusch Inc. analytical balance scale out of Jersey City, NJ. Likely dates to the early 1900s. Includes balance arms and trays, and a sub-stage drawer filled with an assortment of different scales and weights. The weights include coin-like ounce weights, small metal tag weights, and full-size metal weights. Drawer also includes 2 adjustable feet to level the scale apparatus. Very fine condition, with all glass intact and a handsome and even wood finish bearing only a few small dings. Measures 14" x 12" x 6.5". According to a 1950 brochure of the balance-manufacturing firm of Seederer Kohlbusch, the firm of Herman Kohlbusch Balance Company was established in 1859, while an entry in the 1887-88 New York Business Directory gives the date as 1860. In either case, Gopsill`s Directory of 1860-61 states he was a machinist living at Palisade Avenue near Franklin in Hudson City, New Jersey. It is entirely possible that prior to and during that time he also worked for Becker & Sons in New Rochelle, New York, since during those years the concept of "apprenticeship" was still widely accepted as the way to learn a trade. The Census of 1880 lists his occupation as "scalemaker", but this could also have been his classification in the employment of Becker and Sons. The first time his name appears as a balance manufacturer is in the 1884-85 New York Business Directory, where he is listed with an office at 21 Barclay; his home was then at 186 New York Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey. This same Directory contains two additional listings-one for Charles Kohlbusch at 21 Barclay and one for Herman Kohlbusch & Son at 21 Barclay. In 1887-88, Herman Kohlbusch was a manufacturer of balances and weights with an office, showroom and factory at 61 Warren (at the corner of College Place). Charles, his eldest son, continued to be involved in the balance business, but with an office at 35 Nassau and a home in Jersey City. This might mean that Charles opened an office at 35 Nassau, but the main factory and office were at 61 Warren. The firm of Seederer-Kohlbusch, Inc. (at various times with offices in Jersey City, New Jersey, New Rochelle, New York and New York, New York ) is listed as being incorporated in 1908. As it turns out, this is the date of incorporation of the firm of Herman Kohlbusch, Sr. and it seems evident that Seederer-Kohlbusch used that date, just as they used "est. 1859" in its advertising. Since the Manhattan telephone directory for 1925 lists only the firm of Herman Kohlbusch, Sr. and the 1926 directory lists the firm of Seederer-Kohlbusch as well as Herman Kohlbusch, Sr., it is assumed that the transfer of ownership took place between 1925 and 1926. The brand name "Herman Kohlbusch, Sr." seems to have been used for a number of years after the addition of Seederer to the company name, especially in the sales of the company`s diamond balances. -61757