The wagon scale stands next to the gatehouse, at the main entrance to the former grounds of the New York Hamburger Rubber Goods Factory. In the early 1990s, it was slated to be completely removed from the entrance to the Museum of Work, which was under construction at the time. However, the construction workers were stopped by Christina Bargholz, a research associate at the museum. Unfortunately, the wooden planks covering the weighing beams, as well as the load levers and transmission levers, had already been removed. After the dismantling work was halted, the outer steel frame, measuring 4.0 m by 4.5 m, was refilled with sand.
The vehicle scale must have been installed between 1879 and 1919. The New York Hamburger Gummiwarenfabrik had its branch in Hamburg-Barmbek only from 1873 to 1954, and the manufacturer was known as Gebr. Essmann und Co. Ottensener Waagenfabrik only from 1879 to 1919. Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to verify exactly when the scale was installed. The entire site, including the scale, was acquired by the Museum der Arbeit in 1984.
Christin Grundmann, an intern in the “Restoration of Technical Cultural Heritage” program at the Museum of Work, carried out the restoration work. The restoration of the running weight lever and pedestal was carried out from May through August of this year.
The elaborate restoration documentation was kindly made available to us by Mrs. Grundmann, for which we would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks.
Source:
Restoration documentation by Christin Grundmann, August 08, 2003 – Museum of Labor
