well-maintained original late 19th or early 20th century antique american medical druggists' oak wood countertop box scale designed and fabricated by the henry troemner company, philadelphia, pa. henry troemner was a german-american entrepreneur. he started the henry troemner company, known today as troemner inc. the company produced balances and scales. troemner immigrated to the united states in 1832 and settled initially in new york city, then, by 1843, philadelphia. he began making scales and weights in a partnership in 1840, and then established his own company in 1844. he was commissioned by the united states mint in philadelphia to make their balances, which he did so well that he was invited to make the bullion balances for the department of treasury. he later made scales for the mexican mint, assay office in new york, and the san francisco mint. according to ernest child, troemner was probably was the first american manufacturer to follow the french mathematician gilles personne de roberval's balance design. this is distinguished by the load being superimposed on the beam, rather than suspended from the beam, and allowed faster weighings. after his death in 1873 his wife catherine inherited the business, which was kept in the family until incorporating in 1955. the fully functional weighing scale retains the original nickel-plated brass pans enclosed within a "draft shield" comprised of a hinged oak wood top with a centrally located thick plate glass panel with beveled edges. the original tennessee marble platform is free from damage. the lightly stained oak wood cabinet with distinctive profile contains lightly incised design motifs. the compact scale was salvaged from a chicago area drugstore. measures 13 x 6 x 8 inches.