How old is this bathroom scale?
Mid Mod Pam on Jul 22 2008 at 7:59 am | Filed under: Uncategorized
Richard and Sali ask:
We have a yellow Borg bathroom scale with a somewhat rounded triangle chrome face at top with a fairly thick glass lens to read weight. Inside the dial it reads, “The Borg-Erickson Chicago U.S.A.” On the back it reads “Made in the United States of America.” What year was this scale made? Thank you.
Richard and Sali and everyone: I again declare, I am not expert in such things like those guys on the Antiques Road Show. What I can do is estimate and dish about virtually anything from the postwar era based on current obsession - and ask other readers who may be true experts to help. So, what I have to say about these scales, is that they were very common, and that yours is quite typical. Borg’s seem to have been ubiquitous. They are all over ebay including really nice mint-in-box ones occasionally. If you Search them on this site, there are one or more featured in the past, I recall. I have one quite like yours, Richard and Sali. I would date it late 40s/early 50s, based on the linoleum, the overall streamlined lines and the heaviness of the piece. Scales got boxier, and lighter, as the 50s went on. In terms of value: $2-$5 at an estate sale where I live; a mint-in-box find on ebay: $35-$45. If there are any readers who can contribute more - please do!
Meanwhile, I do caution: While every retro bathroom can benefit aesthetically from a set of vintage scales, DO NOT actually stand on these things! Fixating on those little numbers is detrimental to your longterm mental health, and your weight. You don’t need a metal box to tell you if you need to eat better and exercise more. Just get to it - taking one day at a time without fretting. Trust me. Today is a fresh new day, take care of yourself - just today.
Finally, if you missed Cindy’s hideway scale - be sure to take a look - the coolest ever!
I have the same model in black - found it for $2 at a church rummage sale. http://www.flickr.com/photos/28718267@N06/2679967998/
A 1952 model Borg scale can be seen at:
http://new.idsa.org/webmodules/articles/anmviewer.asp?a=280&z=62
The 1952 model is very modern looking compared to the streamlined style of the scale in your photo Richard.
Like the 1015 Wurlitzer Jukebox from 1946, this older scale may have been designed in the early 40’s but not produced until after the war - the chrome part looks like the front end of a 1940 Lasalle sedan
I have this scale in my bath as well! Same model and color. A bit better condition though. I got mine at an estate sale for a cool buck.
I also have a neat Pink 60’s-ish scale that has a chrome “flap” that becomes a “foot” when you stand it up on end so that you can push it up against a wall, getting it more out of the way. It’s too cool but I need to clean it up still. The vinyl on top is peeling up around the edges but everything is still in great shape.
[...] the other day, when I wrote about not using a bathroom scale, I remembered this Ann Landers column. Which I actually have pasted inside my medicine cabinet. [...]