Spring balance scale
The spring balance scale consists of a metal body with a hook at the bottom to hang goods and a ring at the top to hold or hang the scale, with an internal spring mechanism that measures weight — when an object is hung, the spring stretches and a pointer shows the weight on the marked scale; this portable spring balance was commonly used for weighing items like vegetables, fruits, groceries, and sometimes luggage.
Introduced during the late 19th to early 20th century as a portable alternative to pan balances, the spring balance was widely used in rural and small-town markets in India until electronic scales replaced them; though not as accurate as a beam balance, it was convenient, lightweight, and easy to carry, representing a transition from traditional pan balances to modern weighing systems, making weighing faster and simpler for farmers, vendors, and travelers, and today it is preserved as an antique commercial tool reflecting changes in market practices.
