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Troy Mass Standards

Open box of 28 troy mass standard pieces with inventory printed on box lid

Close-up of inventory printed on lid of troy mass standard box set

Most pieces of this set were made by Allan Pollack in Boston in 1836. However, one of its twenty-eight pieces – the 1 lb troy standard – was copied by Superintendent Hassler in Washington from the troy pound of the U.S. Mint. An inventory pinned to the inside of the set’s lid bears Hassler’s signature. This suggests that the set may have been commissioned by Hassler and derived from the 1 lb troy standard that he provided. Hassler may have let contracts for some of the Coast Survey’s work in producing mass standards for the custom-houses and states.

Created March 30, 2017, Updated January 11, 2018