Iron shop store hand scale with two copper trays
Extent and Medium
a: Height: 8.875 inches (22.543 cm) | Width: 17.875 inches (45.403 cm) | Depth: 7.750 inches (19.685 cm)
b: Height: 1.000 inches (2.54 cm) | Width: 7.750 inches (19.685 cm) | Depth: 7.875 inches (20.003 cm)
c: Height: 1.000 inches (2.54 cm) | Width: 7.750 inches (19.685 cm) | Depth: 7.875 inches (20.003 cm)
Archival History
The hand scale with trays was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1990.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
Iron measuring scale with two copper trays of the type possibly used in Łódź Ghetto in German occupied Poland from May 1940 to summer 1944. Łódź was occupied by Germany a week after the September 1939 invasion of Poland. It was renamed Litzmannstadt and, in February 1940, the Jewish population, about 160,000 people, was confined to a small sealed off ghetto. All residents had to work and many were forced laborers in ghetto factories. Eventually, nearly 100 factories were in operation. The major ones produced textiles, including uniforms for the German Army. Due to the severe overcrowding and scarce food, disease and starvation were common. The Judenrat [Jewish Council] administered the ghetto for the Germans. Judenrat chairman Mordechai Rumkowski thought hard work and high outputs would preserve the ghetto. But in January 1942, mass deportations to Chelmno killing center began; half the residents were murdered by the end of the year. In summer 1944, Łódź, the last ghetto in Poland, was destroyed and the remaining Jews were sent to Chelmno and Auschwitz-Birkenau killing centers.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
a. Heavy, blue painted, rusted iron balance scale with a hollow, flat topped, oval base, 2 short vertical rods on top, and 4 claw feet. At the top center of the base is a Y-shaped support post with thick rectangular ends. In the center is a vertical panel with a pointed top, central hole, and scrollwork edges. Between the forked ends, on a pivoting rod, is a horizontal lever with a thin needle at the top center. The ends of the lever have 2 contoured arms with rectangular frames; on top of each rectangle is a cross shaped bracket with curved ends to hold balance pans (b. and c.) At the bottom of each rectangle is a vertical rod which passes through the base to connect to a long horizontal rod underneath. b. Circular, shallow, discolored copper balance pan with rounded sides and a rolled rim. The surface is worn and the bottom is dented. c. Circular, shallow, discolored copper balance pan with rounded sides and a rolled rim. The surface is worn and the bottom is dented.
Subjects
- Poland--History--German occupation, 1939-1945.
- Jewish ghettos--Poland--Łódź.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland.
- Jews--Persecutions--Poland.
- Slave labor--Poland--Łódź.
- World War, 1939-1945--Conscript labor--Poland--Łódź.
Genre
- Tools and Equipment
- Object