Penny scale

[MoonDawg]

   This appeared in todays Craigslist!
 
       http://ventura.craigslist.org/clt/752179198.html

   I know nothing about scales except the ones with a fortune are desirable.

   I showed up at his house to see it and it didn't work so I got a 20% discount.

   Tipped it on it's side and hauled it to the shop and now it works sporatically
       so I know it can't be too difficult to fix, and I have found very little info
       on line. Anybody have a lead on service instructions?

   I'm going to put it in the store for the kids to play with when I'm talking
        with their parents, but if someone wants to buy it...what is it woth?

                                                       




         

[Marvin]

Hard to tell from the pic but that looks like a Watling Tom Thumb Junior.  I have one just like it (except white) that I paid 350.00 for about 9 years ago.  I don't know what they are worth but I thought at the time the price was fair.

www.pennyscale.com  Guy named Bill Berning.  He has a catalog of stuff for many scales.  He may be able to help repair it. 

Marvin
 

[mznb1u]

Neat scale.

I don't know much about those either but we had an American penny operated scale in my dad's drugstore.  I wish we had kept it.  We emptied the box every year and there was usually about $75.00 in pennies in it.

[Ken Layton]

Here's some instructions/parts lists:

http://pennyscale.com/_wsn/page3.html

[MoonDawg]

        Thanks for the links guys, those schematics did wonders to simplify the
principals of operation. Just like other coin-op machines........spend a little
time studying the system and it all makes sense.
        Got it working now, but the white lettering was done in reverse on the
inside of the glass, then painted over with black. That can't be original?
Marvin, do you think you could you post a picture of yours?

[Kilroy]

I keep looking at the lettering, and think, wow that was the same font  used  on the hand lettered signs on The Beverly Hillbilly's   

[Eric]

Cool little scale... bet someone makes the replacement face for that...
Like all this coin-op stuff there's gotta be a group out there with someone
sitting on a pile of original or repro decals for that scale.
I'd start with that website...

[Bireleys1]

Besides Bill Berning, there is another person that sells mainly replacement glass for scales and I have seen him at the Chicago show many times and have puchased glass from him.
I have 2 of the tom thumb jr scales, one is yellow with black base and black glass frames and the other is blue with black base and glass frames. The yellow one is in excellent original condition with nice glass and lettering.The blue one I was told by Bill Berning was a very hard to find color. I am selling the blue one for $350 if any one is interested,it also comes with a new face glass.
Bill has a green one that is not perfect that he's been asking $750 for at the last couple Chicago shows.
The last contact info. I had for the person with the glass is: Jeff Storck 34815 Harry byrd hwy. Round hill , Va. 20141 (540)554-9728
The front glass was $15.00 and the top glass was $10.00
Hope this helps.

Dave