talk report - OCTOBER 2008
22 October 2008: Gold Balance Makers of Ormskirk - Mr Anthony Daly
Anthony Wilkinson invented his Gold Balance Scales to try and overcome the widespread use of counterfeit coins during the 18th & 19th Centuries in England. By weighing the coins you could tell which were counterfeit. At that time coins from many other countries were used as legal tender in England, and it was difficult to distinguish them from counterfeits.
Anthony Wilkinson began his career in Kirby. He was married with 4 children, and his older brother was curate at St. Chad’s Church in Kirby. In 1785 the family moved to Ormskirk, possibly because he knew that there with people with clockmaking skills living in the town. Daniel Robinson and Stephen Houghton were employed to help with the making of the scales. The business flourished and Wilkinson eventually owned 10 cottages in Ormskirk, and became quite involved in the community. He died in 1804 and was buried at St Chad’s where you can still see the family grave.
There’s no trace of him ever having taken out a patent on his invention, and it was copies by other makers, but the workmanship was always inferior to the Wilkinson scales. At the time of their production the scales were initially sold for 10s 6d, which reduced to 5s 6d when sales took off and production increased. As well as selling in the local area, they were sold all over the country through Peter Stubbs catalogue. If you wanted to purchase an early model, in good condition, today, it would cost you about £160, later ones approximately £140.
Following Anthony Wilkinson’s death in 1804, Daniel Robinson moved to Prescott, whilst Stephen Houghton remained in Ormskirk and took over the business. Once paper money came out there was not a great calling for the scales and so he branched out into making watches, clocks and jewellery. The family later moved their business to Liverpool to the Scotland Road area, where James Houghton went into business with Stephen, his father. Eventually the whole family went to live in Liverpool, with James taking over on his father’s death. The business continued up to the time of WWII.
This was a very informative and interest talk which generated a lot of interest from the audience. Tony had brought along some of his collection of Gold Balance Scales, which looked very intricate and delicate.