ANOTHER beam scale discussion

[sksshooter]

After some prior discussions and back and forth i ended up picking up an ohaus 1010 and then shortly after, i fell into an ohaus 10-0-5. i have cleaned both up and am pretty pleased with them. however this has kind of kicked off a desire to collect some more of these older scales. as it stands i think i will add the following to my collection, mainly just for display but i will likely decide on one and have it tuned up as my main user.

ohaus 1010 - have
ohaus 10-0-5 - have
RCBS 1010
RCBS 304
Lyman M5
Redding #1 prefer the green but i see many in brown?

What others should i consider? not really interested in any of the newer 3 poise scales or newer stuff in general this is for collecting/display purposes and don't want anything i can buy currently for sure.

 

[sksshooter]

Some pics of the current scales.

 

[sksshooter]

10-0-5 Guess i should point out i got a little over zealous with some alcohol and microfiber rag while cleaning and actually faded a section of the scale graduations on this one...

 

[1066]

If you're not going to use some of them as your primary powder weighing scales, why discount 3 poise scales? If you are collecting them as a theme of scale development then scales such as the old Herters torsion wire or the oil damped Webster No 1 would fit in. You might add a Ohaus/RCBS 5-10 (Uses the same beam as the 10/10) or one of the odd Pacific balances.

 

[sksshooter]

If you're not going to use some of them as your primary powder weighing scales, why discount 3 poise scales? If you are collecting them as a theme of scale development then scales such as the old Herters torsion wire or the oil damped Webster No 1 would fit in. You might add a Ohaus/RCBS 5-10 (Uses the same beam as the 10/10) or one of the odd Pacific balances.

good catch, it was late and i worded that a bit wrong. i corrected it but im not interested in any of the newer 3 poise or newer stuff in general. i'm fairly new to these older balances. i should have captured the 5-10 as that is another i have my eye on. thanks for the examples that webster is interesting.

 

[1066]

good catch, it was late and i worded that a bit wrong. i corrected it but im not interested in any of the newer 3 poise or newer stuff in general. i'm fairly new to these older balances. i should have captured the 5-10 as that is another i have my eye on. thanks for the examples that webster is interesting.

The more you dig into them the more interesting they get. Another one to add to your collection is the old Hornady/Pacific "M" type scale. Most of the RCBS/Ohaus line of scales use a common floating agate bearing/knife edge set up, with bearing end plates that limit side to side movement of the beam. The Hornady/Pacific is different in that respect, it has one straight knife edge and one curved knife edge to pivot on fixed round steel bearings - the result of this is the the beam self centers without any need or interference by the endplates. This is a 3 poise scale with a cast iron base. It looks a bit like it was made in a Russian tractor factory by actually works quite well.

 

[sksshooter]

The more you dig into them the more interesting they get. Another one to add to your collection is the old Hornady/Pacific "M" type scale. Most of the RCBS/Ohaus line of scales use a common floating agate bearing/knife edge set up, with bearing end plates that limit side to side movement of the beam. The Hornady/Pacific is different in that respect, it has one straight knife edge and one curved knife edge to pivot on fixed round steel bearings - the result of this is the the beam self centers without any need or interference by the endplates. This is a 3 poise scale with a cast iron base. It looks a bit like it was made in a Russian tractor factory by actually works quite well.

1066, thanks for pointing a couple out. Found one of those old pacifics today that looks mint that i had to jump on. Wouldnt have even been looking in that direction had you not pointed them out.

 

[1066]

Well that was a good find, I have a couple of these types but not in such good condition. It looks as though you are a little short of checkweights there - I believe there should be a small glass tube with little 10th grain discs included.
Although these "scales" are very basic and may look crude to some, once cleaned and set-up they will hold their own for sensitivity, reliability, repeatability and, if the correct damping oil is used, will settle as fast as any of them. Make up a checkweight of the exact charge you need, zero out the scale with the adjusting nuts to that weight with the nuts locked together - done. All charges will be the same.
Just 4-5 years ago you could pick up some of the old oil damped scales for peanuts - now people are starting to see their value.

 

[sksshooter]

Going to have to stop looking for a little bit before the wife catches wind... snagged this redding today listed as new old stock. If not unused it appears pretty close.

 

[dcali]

I tried to unload a pretty clean RCBS branded Ohaus 1010 a while back and nobody wanted it. It's just collecting dust.

SOLD - RCBS/Ohaus Scale

This is an old, made in USA Ohaus/RCBS scale. I don't know how old it is - if memory serves, it was gifted to me in 1993, and it wasn't new then. It's in excellent condition and I'll throw in an RCBS powder trickler. $150, buyer pays shipping. Paypal preferred.

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[JFrank]

I’m a closet beam scaler, started using early in life and never quite kicked the habit.

 

[M-61]

Bought a 304 new probably in the 60’s not sure.
Works flawlessly for me and a few years ago I bought an RCBS charge master. I still throw maybe every 10th charge on the 304 just to check but I found they are fine. I can see the day when I check maybe every 20th charge but I don’t see me ever putting the 304 away.

 

[1066]

Here's the original dial-o-grain, 1927 style:

 

[mousegunner]

I passed on an M5, like new, for 40 bucks pre covid days, still kicking myself over that!

 

[DLT]

I passed on an M5, like new, for 40 bucks pre covid days, still kicking myself over that!

Oooo you screwed up

 

[Cecil S.]

My name is Ken and ahhhhhh......I like older scales. LOL

 

[Cecil S.]

An M5 for $40.00 yeah you missed a good one.

 

[1066]

My name is Ken and ahhhhhh......I like older scales. LOL

Hi my name is Allan - I haven't bought an old beam scale for three weeks, four days and six hours.

 

[justinp61]

Look for an older 505, the red and creme colored one with the large pan. It's a very good looking scale.

 

[sksshooter]

My small collection is growing pretty rapidly. Have these 6 in my possesion and have the other 2 in route to me.