Scales have been available on the market for several years and work on the principle of measuring the mass or weight in goods. The scales are usually available in different weight units like Kilograms, pounds, stones, ounces, and grams. The vintage kitchen scale was specially developed for catering purposes. Vintage scales were used to measure all kinds of food and ingredients at home. Bakers, butchers, and grocers also used the scales for their businesses.
The vintage kitchen scale came in two main designs the balance scale and the balance scale. The balance scales came with two platforms or surfaces which used counterbalance to measure the weight of items. On the other hand, the spring scales had either a flat surface or a bowl to place the items to be measured. The spring scales had a pointer to indicate the readings.
Currently, the Antique kitchen scales are still in use and are comparatively inexpensive. The prices of these scales may vary from one kitchen scale to another. Additionally, antique kitchen scales bring more charisma to country kitchen decor and any room in general. You can put any vintage scale to use by simply adding a fresh coat of paint and sanding it.
This article examines the five best vintage kitchen scales and talks about what each antique kitchen scale is good at. We have also listed and discussed the vintage scale Buyer’s Guide, which will help you make an informed decision.
5 Best Vintage Kitchen Scales
1. Salter Compact Mechanical Antique Kitchen Scale
- Always weigh accurately with the Salter diet kitchen scales
- Ideal for controlling portions; Weighs in increments of 25g for accurate results
- Product Dimensions: 16.8 x 13.4 x 23.1 cm - 15 Year Warranty
- The scales can be stored easily in the tray and the bowl is dishwasher safe
- Easy to read display
Salter Compact is a great vintage kitchen scale for precise and accurate weight readings. The scale can measure different kinds of products from Fruits to flour or even butter to sugar.
The salter has a display dial that looks like a clock. The scale provides readings in kgs and lbs and has imperial measurements of up to 6.6 lb or 3kgs. It is elegantly and neatly designed with an easy-to-read dial and large numbers or digits.
The compact kitchen scale is made with both plastic and metal materials that are durable. The ones made from plastic materials will more likely have a more decorative appearance and add a classy finishing to your kitchen. It is also very convenient for small spaced rooms and can fit inside the measuring bowl it comes with and includes a 15-year guarantee.
2. Winco SCLH-50, 50-LBS Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale
- Due to its rust-resistant heavy-duty stainless steel construction, this commercial grade scale is extremely durable and long lasting
- Its dial graphics improve reading accuracy. This amazing measuring scale registers weight from 4 till 50 LBS.
- Compact design is great for confined areas. Ideal for weighing portions in kitchens and delis.
- Stainless steel platform and bezel are easy to clean and sanitize.
- This mechanical portion scale is perfect for restaurants, pubs, supermarkets, grocery stores or concession stands
Winco SCLH-50, 50-LBS Multifunction Kitchen is designed as a spring scale. This stainless scale an important part of many kitchens and is also purposed for commercial use. This scale's plate or platform dimensions are 8-5/8" x 8-5/8 inches and are available in only two colors, white and silver.
The Winco SCLH-50 has made with long life and corrosion-resistant material that is very durable. The materials are eco-friendly and do not have harmful substances that can have harmful health effects. The kitchen scale is designed to be used in small hotels, concession stands, supermarkets, and even big restaurants. They have a dial display that is Shatterproof free and have great reading visibility. It provides consistent and accurate information and can weigh from as low as 4 lbs up to 5o lbs.
3. Escali DS115B Mercado Retro Classic Stainless Steel Antique Kitchen Scale
- Durable: This durable spring scale has a metal frame, easy-to-read dial display, and stainless steel bowl
- Easy to read: The large dial display is easy to read, shatterproof, and features imperial (lb:oz) and metric (kg:g) measurements
- Stainless steel bowl: The included bowl is removable and dishwasher safe
- Tare feature: Reset the scale to zero weight to measure multiple items in one container
- No batteries required: The scale can function endlessly without power in a wide range of conditions
The Escali Retro ds115B is a durable stainless steel spring scale with an 11 lbs weight capacity. This vintage kitchen scale weighs around 3 kg and has a dimension of 10 x 8 x 8.5 and a bowl dimension of 8 x 8 x 1.75 inches. It also has both lbs and kg measurements.
Batteries do not power this scale, thus can function endlessly without any source power. The Escali products are sold globally and give standard or metric formatted information to their users. The antique kitchen scale resets to zero weight to help you use one container to measure multiple times.
The Mercado Mechanical Dial Scale can take accurate and precise measurements, and you will not need a digital scale. The scale is designed with a metal frame which makes it very durable because of its rust-free elements. It has a stainless bowl that is removable and helps in scooping things. The dial display on the scale is indestructible, visible, and has large numbers, making it easy to read the measurements.
4. CTW Home Collection 770199 Country Decorative Kitchen Scale
- This item can be place in everywhere you want to decorate
- Use this decorative scale as a sentimental piece or old fashioned scale
- Dimensions: 9 3/4 inches width x 12 1/4 inches diameter x 27 inches tall
- Non functional decorative scale
- Made of metal
The CTW Home Collection 770199 Country Decorative vintage Kitchen Scale is manufactured by a Closely Held Corporation located in Greensboro, NC. Initially, the product had limited editions. Unlike today, you can easily buy the product even online and has made up to 80% sales.
Having this scale hanging on your kitchen wall will act as a home decor item and make your kitchen space spectacular. The product gives you a new way of perceiving and understanding decor. The product provides customers with great satisfaction.
Even though you can only use this kitchen scale to add style to your room, it can also serve as a serving tray at home.
5. KitchenCraft NETSCABLK Living Nostalgia Antique Scales
The K.Craft vintage kitchen scale is a balance scale that has two platforms. The platform will allow you to measure two different products to determine the one that has the higher weight or mass. The K. Craft kitchen scale can measure items with a weight difference of 1/4 pound to as much as four pounds.
This kitchen scale with weights is black colored and comes with an excellent acacia wood base that is spectacular in the cooking area. The scale is designed with a removable chromium steel bowl that is removable, making it easier for you to scoop and pour your ingredients conveniently.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Vintage Kitchen Scale
Each of these vintage kitchen scales has features and functionality that vary. Before purchasing an antique kitchen scale, you should consider a few factors.
1. Use
Like all other weighting scales, vintage kitchen scales have the same purpose. The scales are used to calculate or measure the mass of an item. However, many people are using vintage kitchen scales for decorative purposes or as home decor. You need to know why you are purchasing the kitchen scale, be it measuring and decorating or as a decorative item only. This is because some of the vintage scales are only functional as decorative tools.
2. Easy to clean
The scales in the kitchen are more likely to get dirty. The vintage kitchen scale you are considering buying must have a removable platform for convenient and easy clean-ups. The removable pan is easy and helps you do a thorough cleaning routine each time you need to clean the scale. It is also advisable to avoid scales with nooks and crannies where you can have trapped food residues or remains. In comparison to the digital kitchen scales, these vintage scales tend to be easier to clean.
3. Capacity of Antique Kitchen Scales
A great vintage kitchen scale has a weight capacity of up to 1 grams. It would be better if you looked at the maximum possible weight capacity a vintage scale can handle. Then compare it to the products you wat weighed. You will also need to know if you will need overload protection. If the machine meets your expectation, you should consider purchasing it.
4. Platform Size of Antique Kitchen Scales
Most vintage scales used in the kitchen are user-friendly and come in different sizes. First, you will have to know the appropriate platform size that will meet your needs. You will also have to ensure that the scale platform is large enough to fit the items you want to measure. A good platform size also ensures that you can place your bowl safely without tripping. If the item you place on the scale extends beyond the platform, then there is a high possibility of having inaccurate readings.
5. Material
Vintage kitchen scales are made with great materials that are either plastic or metal. These materials are supposed to be corrosion-free and rust-resistant. However, do not be dissuaded from getting very old vintage scales. Most of the antique kitchen scales are made from eco-friendly materials.
6. Accuracy
The scale's accuracy is key in the purchasing of a kitchen scale. It is important to get a scale that measures both the metric and imperial units. Antique scales that measure an increment of up to one pound are greatly advised. The scale should also have a quick registering power of up to 2 seconds.
7. Legible
Antique kitchen scales have well labelled and legible. The display on these scales is supposed to have large figures and have intense color contrast. The bowl on the scale should give you space to view the displayed readings with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Vintage Kitchen Scales
1. Can vintage kitchen scales have inaccurate settings?
Most antique kitchen scales are not usually very accurate due to some unavoidable factors such as the number of times they have been used. If the vintage kitchen scale display readout becomes difficult to see, weight reading does not hold steady and has inconsistent scale readings; this means that it can not be reliable to weigh items. They will then be used as decorative scales only. On the other hand, you can get great vintage scales that work great and can still be used as decorative scales.
2. How do you use vintage kitchen scales?
Most of these antique kitchen scales do not come with a vintage kitchen scale guide to help you easily use them, not to mean that they are difficult to use. To weigh your items, move the big sliding weight to the right, then from the end of the beam, stick out on the left side, which will lower as the weight moves. When it falls at the horizontal mark of the center frame, this shows you should stop moving the weight.
3.Do vintage kitchen scales go bad?
Vintage scales and digital scales rarely go bad or expire. And because the antique kitchen scales are older does not necessarily mean that the scale will not function well or you will need to purchase a new one. The way the scales are handled greatly matters in terms of the durability of the scale. If the scale is not handled with care, weighing heavier items than their weight capacity or are dropped will then mean that the lifespan has been reduced.