Helen Phillips and Scales

Name/Title

Helen Phillips and Scales

Entry/Object ID

2024.RSC.558

Description

16 Nov 1946 - Island County's old two-story frame courthouse still uses a set of scales installed in territorial days to measure out gold, gunpowder, and any other commodity requiring "squint weight." Joe Libbey, county auditor, has kept the sturdy but ancient "Fairbanks" in use as a mail scale long its need for determining official weights and measures on Whidby Island...To estimate how much of the county's funds must be spent on a first-class letter, Mrs. Helen Phillips, stenographer, puts a brass weight the size of corn kernel on the "pan" at one end of the beam and the envelope on the opposite pan. A needle operating from the cross beam indicates whether the letter weighs more than an ounce, or less.

Photograph Details

Subject Person or Organization

Phillips, Helen

Subject Place

Building

Island County Courthouse

City

Coupeville, Washington

County

Island County

State/Province

Washington

Region

Cascades and Plateau, Whidbey Island

Continent

North America

Collection

Roger Sherman Collection

Made/Created

Date made

1946

Place

Building

Island County Courthouse

City

Coupeville, Washington

County

Island County

State/Province

Washington

Region

Cascades and Plateau, Whidbey Island

Continent

North America

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Phillips, Helen

Notes

Island County Stenographer

Person or Organization

Libbey, Joe

Notes

Island County Auditor

Related Places

Place

Building

Island County Courthouse

City

Coupeville, Washington

County

Island County

State/Province

Washington

Region

Cascades and Plateau, Whidbey Island

Continent

North America