Roberval Balance

Named after the village from which its French inventor originated, it is a mechanical scale, produced in 1669 and still found all over the country, despite becoming replaced by digital scales. It is equipped with two uncovered plates attached to the stable heavy rectangular base by vertical beams, and to the tri-pronged horizontal central flail through a system of pivots. This scale's manufacturer’s name is embossed on the base surface. It comes with a set of weights, and holds a maximum of 30 kg. The weights can be cylindrical, pyramidal, or quadrangular, and are placed in one plate, while the object to be weighed is placed in the other. The weight is guessed when the horizontal flail is leveled. It was used for weighing food and commodities in grocery stores and fish markets, as well as fruits and vegetables in stores or mobile vendors' trucks.