87.80.29

Scale, Egg

1930 Approximate

Reliable Egg Scale. Material: metal. Size: 12 1/2" L. x 3" W. x 3" H. Description: galvanized metal base; silver metal egg holder and weight; silver and red oval plaque on base: "Reliable Mfg. Division of Reliable Egg Scale, See weight chart, James Mfg. Co., Los Angeles, Calif. U.S.A."; engraved on metal scale: "Reliable Mfg Co"; opposite side: "Los Angeles Calif."

Egg scales help grade and market eggs. Graded eggs mean the eggs are sorted by size, determined by their weight. Grading eggs by weight began about 1900 as a way of selecting the ideal size egg for hatching purposes. During WWI and WWII, the US War Department bought eggs in large quantities to feed the troops overseas. Poultry farmers were paid a premium for graded eggs. The majority of egg scales were invented and manufactured between 1920 and 1940.