Rare Georgian Mahogany Folding Guinea Scale by Anthony Wilkinson c.1790

Rare Georgian mahogany folding gold balance and guinea scale with original instruction inserts by Anthony Wilkinson, Ormskirk, Late of Kirkby, c.1790. Anthony Wilkinson originally worked in Kirkby until he moved to Ormskirk in 1785, and advertisements for his machines claim that he was the original inventor of gold balances which could be bought in every market town in England. The balances were portable and used to check that coins included their correct weight in gold as specified in law. The coins included guineas, half-guineas, seven shilling pieces, sovereigns and half sovereigns. Only coins of the correct weight were worth their face value. Coins would become underweight through wear or the clipping of edges for re-use in counterfeits, particularly common when coins were in short supply. Wilkinson's Gold Balance Maker: Consisted of a tip-over balance that fitted into a pocket case. There was a sliding weight on the guinea pan side up to the number 12, each number represented one pennyworth's deficiency of weight. On the side of the weighing bar were five or six lines which represented a farthing above the official value. The balances could also be used by the medical profession to divide a gram of gold into sixteen parts. The lefthand paper insert: "The turn at the end for a guinea; to the centre for half a guinea; and the slide at the cypher, where it stops; every stop nearer the centre is a farthing above the currency; the divisions the other way are a penny each, for light gold. -- These balances are as accurate as the best of scales, more expeditious, portable, and not so liable to be out of order." At the end of these instructions, there is a small area of paper that is missing. It carried the price information: "(Price 5s, 6d.)" so would seem to have been removed deliberately. The manufacturer's details are to the right of this insert: "A. Wilkinson, Ormskirk, (Late of Kirkby), Near Liverpool." The righthand paper insert: "When you want to weigh quick, put the slide a farthing or two above weight, for safety; and what gold will not draw, may be tried afterwards with the slide at the cypher. These balances may be tried with sealed weights at any time, for the satisfaction of such as refuse to take money by them: If they wary, they are soon brought to by the slide. Keep the machine (when open) level as you can, lest you break the centre of the beam. Before you shut the box, put up the scale." In very good antique condition, a very unusual gift or one for the collector.