A decimal balance or decimal scale is a

balance scale A scale or balance is a device used to measure weight or mass. These are also known as mass scales, weight scales, mass balances, massometers, and weight balances. The traditional scale consists of two plates or bowls suspended at equal dis ...

which uses the lever in which the arm for weights is 10 times longer than the arm for weighted objects, so that much lighter weights may be used to weigh heavy object.''McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms'' Similarly a centesimal balance uses arms in ratio 1:100. Since the platform for the load has large area, it employs two supports connected to the shorter arm, with the second support connected via a lever run horizontally under the platform, to ensure that the weight measurement does not depend on its placement on the platform.

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mini decimal bascule. a scale modelLes bascules décimalesPrinciple of decimal scalesTechnik von gestern (1): Dezimalwaage
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Franz Reuleaux Franz Reuleaux (; ; 30 September 1829 – 20 August 1905) was a German mechanical engineer and a lecturer at ''Technische Hochschule Berlin'' (today Technische Universität Berlin), later appointed as the president of the academy. He was often c ...

, ''Lehrbuch der kinematik'', 1875
p. 321

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American 501(c)(3) organization, non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle that runs a digital library website, archive.org. It provides free access to collections of digitized media including web ...

Weighing scales