SCALE-TESTING HOBBY

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30839, 26 August 1965, Page 2

SCALE-TESTING HOBBY

A well-travelled male visiting Christchurch has the unusual pastime of testing out weighing machines of eities of the world. To fill in yesterday lunch-hour, he tried out 10 scales in the central Christchurch city area, mostly in chemist shops. His findings were that Christchurch machines are more accurate over all than in any city he has visited. Eight scales he tested, including the one outside the M.E.D., gave his weight at the true list 61b. For women who wish

to “reduce,” he suggests trying the scale in a chemist’s new premises in Colombo street. This machine most co-operat-ively deducted lib, makhim him list 51b. Sensitive women, he says, should steer clear of the Chief Post Office scales, where he was given a bonus of ljlb. The scales in front of the post office read list 711 b. AH but three of the scales tested by this male visitor were free. The others had a penny slot. The male visitor says that in Sydney, scales dotted around the city show enormous varia-

tions. Some Sydney “jockey” scales, where 3d is charged and a fulltime supervisor is in attendance, are accurate to half an ounce. But in some Sydney streets, our visitor has lost or gained as much as 2! stone, simply by crossing a street, from one set of scales to another.

On one Sydney weighing machine he tested,

five cards with his weight imprinted were spewed out upon depositing five pennies in a slot. Each card gave a - different weight, with variations up to 7lb.