Grain elevator platform scale

[robsmith_nc]

Anyone known rough dimensions of a platform scale in a typical prarie grain elevator from around mid 1900's? Building a model, but not sure how wide/long the scale would be.

Thanks!

[jrbernier]

  if you are talking about the scale that wagons/trucks went over, the length varied.  It had to fit in the scale house on the back of the elevator.  Typical size would be 8' wide by 16' or 24' long(my estimate).

 Later elevators had the scale incorperated in some of the 'truck dunp' platforms that tipped the truck so that the grain would drain out faster.  Most of the balance beam scales are now replaced by electronic scales.  In Minnesota and South Dakota, scales have to be certified every year.  If an old balance beam scale misses certification, it cannot be re-certified the following year.  I went through a sunflower elevator that still had a certified balance beam scale(backup if the electronic scale broke).

Jim

[robsmith_nc]

Thanks, Jim. That's about what I was guessing, based on photos of old elevators and truck sizes from that era. 8' x 22' was what I had planned but figured I'd ask the forum before I modeled something up that was way out of whack. Wish I had a surviving prototype in my part of the country (NC) to go look at!

Rob

[mlehman]

Rob,

That should be close enough. I have two. The one on a Walthers elevator is 20' x 10'. One from a Grandt Line store kit is 22' x 9'.

[BATMAN]

 

[robsmith_nc]

Thanks, Batman.