Leading the section were a series of eight graduated Imperial bushel measures for the Corporation of Walsall, one shown here. Dating from 1826, the age of the set appealed to collectors but, perhaps oddly given the ‘metric-martyrs’ controversy is a pecularliarly British one, a Continental private collector offered the successful bid of £4800.
Other prices included £1200 on a cased set of standard troy bullion weights for the Borough of Smethwick dated 1900 and £1000 from a collector on a series of cased spherical weights also from 1900.
Continental Imperialist weighs in with £4800
The Foot and Mouth crisis put an end to the intended group selling of Imperial weights and measures belonging to the British Trading Standards Association. The weights have now been sold over a number of general antiques sales at the Burton-on-Trent rooms of Richard Winterton (10% buyer’s premium) the latest of which was held on May 23.
