Images(5)

Scale, Market

Object number2019.40.3

Manufacturer Hobart Manufacturing Company

Date1946-1970

OriginTroy, OH

MediumMetal; Enamel; Plastic; Paper; Ink

Credit LineGiven in honor of the McGinnis Family

DescriptionWhite enamelled metal produce scale. Rounded rectangular tray with cylindrical column inserting into top of rectangular base. Base's long sides are slanted on the top half. Front slanted side of base has chrome-framed plastic window with black, red, and yellow marketing message on left and scale weight window on right. Back slanted side of base has chrome-framed plastic window with black and white weight at left and corresponding numbers to the right between black and yellow quantities and black and green values at far right. Back has maker plate below the window. Underside has one adjustable metal foot in each corner and an imprinted serial number along back side.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 15.5 × 17.875 × 13.5 in. (39.4 × 45.4 × 34.3 cm)
InscriptionsFront slanted side of base has plastic window with black and red text on left "Fancy Fruits and Vegetables / FRESH EVERY DAY" and scale weight window on right with black printed numbers 0-30.

Back slanted side of base has plastic window with black printed numbers 0-30 at left and black printed numbers to the right; in top right corner and bottom right corner is black text "TWO CENT VALUES"; at bottom center of window is black text "INDICATOR".
MarksBack has maker plate at center below the window, plate has black text "MANUFACTURED BY DAYTON SCALE DIVISION / HOBART UL / THE HOBART MFG. CO. TROY, OHIO U.S.A. / MODEL / 970 / LBS CAPY. / 30 / SERIAL NO. / 2282547 / VOLTS / 115 / WATTS / 100".

Underside has imprinted number along back side "2282547".
Historical NotesProduce scale. Hobart (a company in Ohio) was a standard maker of deli and produce scales, and the Model 970 was first introduced in 1938. The vegetable décor on this one suggests that it was used in the produce department. Hobert started putting digital displays on this model by 1970, so this example probably dates back to the original family market prior to that date. Part of the McGinnis Family Food Stores collection that encompasses materials related to the operation of a chain of family-run food markets that started in Pittsburgh’s South Hills Baldwin neighborhood in 1946. The first McGinnis market (variously referred to as “McGinnis Supermarket” or “McGinnis Food Market”) was started by family patriarch James Elwood McGinnis when he could not find a job after WWII. Beginning with a fruit cart, he eventually opened a grocery and deli at 2872 Custer Avenue in Baldwin that proved so successful it expanded to multiple stores, including one in Carrick/Castle Shannon and later Monroeville. The stores were operated by different family members. In 1985, three McGinnis sisters – Sharon McGinnis Young, Bonnie McGinnis Vello, and Noreen McGinnis Campbell – assumed operation of the main set of McGinnis Stores, rebranding them “McGinnis Sisters” markets. (Two brothers split off and started other stores not considered part of the chain.) With the three women serving as active spokespersons, the stores garnered more media attention during this period. For most of its operation, the chain was largely connected with stores that operated in the South Hills and Monroeville. Between 2008 and 2017, a McGinnis Sisters market also operated north of Pittsburgh in a shopping center in Adams Township/Mars, Pennsylvania. A series of events between 2017 and 2019 eventually brought about the closure of the chain. Objects in the collection were gathered from throughout the stores and consolidated at the final property, the McGinnis Sisters Special Food Store at 3825 Saw Mill Run Boulevard.

Previous owner McGinnis Family Food Stores (1946 - 2019)

Related institution Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.

Related person James Elwood McGinnis

Related person Sharon McGinnis Young

Related person Bonnie McGinnis Vello

Related person Noreen McGinnis Campbell

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