A museum of weights and measures

From the ancient weighing bar of Indian sub-continent ‘Bismer’ to its European replica Danish steel yard, this unique museum at Nava India in the city is all about weights and measures.

The museum attached to Accurate Electronics, a manufacturer of electronic weighing scales, currently houses 138 types of weights and measures from various parts of the globe.

“Weights and measures are a part of our life from birth to death.

A woman is weighed throughout her pregnancy. The weight is recorded soon after one’s birth.

Even the firewood used for cremation is weighed and sold,” says R. Saravanan, a first generation entrepreneur who conceptualised and started the museum three years back.

The museum houses varieties of equal arm beam balance, one of the first types of beam scale that was in use as early as 4,000 BC. While stone weights were used in these beam scale in different shapes and sizes, they slowly transformed to metal weights over the century. “The latest form of weights used in scales are made of pure stainless steel, price of which starts from ₹50,000 for half kg,” says Mr. Saravanan.

Most of his foreign collections like Russian fishing scale and full leather Chinese beam scale were bought during travels.

Meanwhile, several other foreign collections were sourced through his fellow members at the UK-based International Society of Antique Scale Collectors, which has less than 30 members. Mr. Saravanan claimed that he was the only member of the society from South-East Asia.

The museum also gives glimpses of postal covers and stamps brought out by various countries on weights and measures. While several other countries have brought out stamps and postal covers related to weights and measures, India is yet to come up with one, according to Mr. Saravanan.

“My dream is to start a bigger museum housing several other collections related to weights and measures on Avinashi Road for the benefit of public and students,” said Mr. Saravanan.

The museum at MJ Sargunam Colony near SNR College is open to public on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.