Salter Family Scale No. 45 Value Guide

The Salter Family Scale No. 45 is a quintessential piece of Victorian kitchenware, manufactured by the historic Richard Salter company in Bilston, England. This model is highly collectible for its ornate cast iron scrollwork and the enduring reliability of its late 19th-century spring balance mechanism.

What Is Salter Family Scale No. 45 Worth?

The typical price range for Salter Family Scale No. 45 is $95 - $105 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The legibility and patina of the brass dial, as faded or heavily corroded markings can decrease value.
• The condition of the cast iron base, specifically looking for the absence of cracks or modern repainting.
• The presence and original state of the tin scoop pan, which is often lost or replaced with non-period parts.
• The functional accuracy of the internal spring mechanism, though many are now purchased for decorative use.

How to Identify Salter Family Scale No. 45?

• Look for the 'Salter's Family Scale No. 45' branding etched or printed clearly on the circular brass dial face.
• Verify the presence of the original Victorian-era decorative scrollwork cast into the heavy iron base.
• Check for the authentic tin scoop pan, which should sit securely atop the vertical support arm.
• Confirm the origin mark, as these units were manufactured in the United Kingdom between 1890 and 1910.

History of Salter Family Scale No. 45

Salter was founded in the late 18th century by Richard Salter in Bilston, England. By the late 1800s, the company became synonymous with reliable household spring balances. The No. 45 model was a staple in Victorian and Edwardian kitchens, prized for its durability and decorative scrollwork base.