Weighing in on Egg Scales

By Bob Jibben
Published on March 31, 2011
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This version of the Acme was introduced at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933-34.
This version of the Acme was introduced at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933-34.
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Back view of two Acme scales. The Acme with the flange (at right) has a narrower base.
Back view of two Acme scales. The Acme with the flange (at right) has a narrower base.
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The Dominion egg scale from Canada has seven fins and a cast-iron base.
The Dominion egg scale from Canada has seven fins and a cast-iron base.
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The later Multiplo retained the cast aluminum base and had a much deeper egg cup.
The later Multiplo retained the cast aluminum base and had a much deeper egg cup.
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This Multiplo egg grader was advertised in a 1949 Clark’s Catalogue of Poultry Feeds and Equipment. It is identical to the original model of the Acme egg grader manufactured in the U.S. from 1924-36, except for the gradations of 1-1/2, 1-5/8, 1-3/4, 1-7/8, 2, 2-1/8, 2-1/4, 2-3/8 and 2-1/2 oz. per egg instead of Acme’s standard gradations of 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28 and 30 oz. per dozen.
This Multiplo egg grader was advertised in a 1949 Clark’s Catalogue of Poultry Feeds and Equipment. It is identical to the original model of the Acme egg grader manufactured in the U.S. from 1924-36, except for the gradations of 1-1/2, 1-5/8, 1-3/4, 1-7/8, 2, 2-1/8, 2-1/4, 2-3/8 and 2-1/2 oz. per egg instead of Acme’s standard gradations of 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28 and 30 oz. per dozen.
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Acme egg scales were constructed of cast and sheet aluminum. This scale was made before 1933.
Acme egg scales were constructed of cast and sheet aluminum. This scale was made before 1933.
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Product name and U.S. patent date are shown on the outermost fin of most Acme egg scales.
Product name and U.S. patent date are shown on the outermost fin of most Acme egg scales.
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My experience with egg scales started when I was a child on our farm in South Dakota. I had the responsibility of collecting, washing and weighing eggs. Today, the first question people ask when they see my egg scale collection is why eggs are weighed. People usually haven’t considered how the eggs they purchased were classified. As a boy, I weighed and cleaned eggs to increase the price of a dozen eggs by a few cents as I placed them in 30 dozen cases to be sold to grocery stores and egg processors. 

Grading of eggs by weight began about 1900 as a way of selecting the ideal size egg for hatching purposes. Early “egg graders” were preset to select eggs of a certain weight.  During World War I, the U.S. War Department bought eggs in large quantities and paid for them on the basis of size, which was determined by weight. Since poultry farmers were paid a premium for graded eggs, i.e., eggs that were sorted by size, World War I created an immediate market for “egg scales.” Farmers graded eggs to sell to retailers as a source of cash, thus perpetuating the need for egg scales. World War II created the greatest single demand for egg scales as the U.S. War Department bought eggs in huge quantities to feed the troops overseas. Most egg scales were invented and manufactured between 1920 and 1940.

A Specialty product

Acme egg grading scales were produced by Specialty Mfg. Co., St. Paul, Minn., founded by William Boss in 1900. Specialty’s first products included a grass catcher for a lawn mower, clothesline reel and garden hose reel followed by several other items, including the Acme egg grading scale. In 1922, Acme inventor N.E. Chapman filed for a patent for what he referred to as an egg grading device. The patent was granted in June 1924.

Still in operation today, Specialty manufactures numerous products for various industries. The company chairperson is Heidi Sandberg McKeown, great-granddaughter of the company’s founder.

Fins tell weight

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