Egg Grader

This egg grader made in Bakelite, by Lightening from Surrey, is from the 1950’s. An egg is placed in the dimple of the seesaw which pivots to push up the stems at the end. The middle stem is attached to the seesaw and if it’s the only one that moves it indicates a third grade egg. The other two stems hang from the casing at different lengths and move if a heavier egg tips the seesaw more.

The one on the left for a second grade egg and the shortest one on the right indicating a first grade egg.
How much did an egg weigh for each grade? I hear you ask – details below:

First – heavier than 2 3/16 ounces (62 grams)
Second – between 1 7/8 ounce (53g) and 2 3/16 ounces (62 g)
Third – between 1 5/8 ounce (46g) and 1 7/8 ounce (53g).
Fourth – below 1 5/8 ounce which wouldn’t move the seesaw at all.

The grader was designed for smallholders with the claim that they could grade 1500 to 1800 eggs per hour: up to 30 eggs per minute.

To see this, other Objects of the Month and plenty of other artefacts please visit the Bishop’s Stortford Museum in South Mill Arts.