As one of the nation`s oldest industrial manufacturing companies, Fairbanks Scales has consistently maintained a solid reputation of providing top quality products and service since 1830.

An Early Partnership Builds Foundations

It all began with two brothers, Thaddeus and Erastus Fairbanks. Thaddeus, a mechanic and builder, was a wagon maker by trade. Full of new ideas for inventions, he built a foundry in 1823 to manufacture two of his inventions—the cast iron plow and a stove.

In 1824, Erastus joined Thaddeus` lucrative business. The two brothers formed the E & T Fairbanks Company in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Once in business together, the two brothers realized that the current weighing system yielded inaccurate results. So, Thaddeus decided to invent a new, more dependable weighing machine.

Innovation Found in the Form of Levers

Through an arrangement of levers, Thaddeus Fairbanks was able to tremendously reduce the amount of weight needed to counter-balance a load. Not completely satisfied with his invention, he took it a step further. He dug a pit for the levers, placing the platform level with the ground. This modification ended the task of having to hoist the entire load.

In his first design, Thaddeus rested a platform on two long levers which were connected to a steelyard, upon which the counterbalance was placed. Although achieving accurate weighing results, Thaddeus was troubled by the instability of the design.

On the morning he was to leave St. Johnsbury for the test marketing of the scale, he discovered a solution to his dilemma. By adding two short levers to his long ones, he established support points at all four corners of the platform. Now his scale was not only accurate, but very stable.

In 1830, Thaddeus built his first real scale and applied for a patent. The new scale was a hit. Before the design was finalized, customers were already placing orders. It looked like the opportune time for the business to expand.

Fairbanks Plays Major Role in IndustrializationWhile the Fairbanks brothers were building the foundations of Fairbanks Scales, the United States was stepping into the Industrial Age and on its way to becoming the strongest industrial nation in the world.

The E & T Fairbanks Company played an integral role in the emerging world giant. By the time of the Civil War, Fairbanks` scales were the best known American product in the world. Erastus and Thaddeus were now joined by their younger brother, Joseph. With just $4,000 and 10 employees, the company was making scales, plows and stoves.

Fairbanks Scales Inc. Downloads

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