United States Bureau of Standards Railroad Master Scale Equipment, 1919

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Artifact Overview

Railroads relied on accurate scales. The weight of a loaded freight car was used to calculate shipping charges. Weight measurements also helped prevent overloading, which could damage the car or track, bridges, and other structures. The large weights in this photo were used by the U.S. Bureau of Standards to verify the accuracy of railroad scales.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

1919

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2024.0.1.7

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8 in
Width: 10 in

United States Bureau of Standards Railroad Master Scale Equipment, 1919