Images(7)

Scale

Object number2019.40.9 a-c

Manufacturer Penn Scale Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Date1946-2019

OriginPhiladelphia, PA

MediumIron; Metal; Paint

Credit LineGiven in honor of the McGinnis Family

DescriptionBalance scale with one-pound weight and two-pound weight. Scale is cast iron painted red. Two flat circular platforms mounted on base. Saw-toothed gray metal scale bar on front has weight demarcations up to sixteen pounds and suspended hour-glass weight. Each weight is circular with flat top and bottom, diameter tapers toward bottom.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (a): 6 × 13.688 × 6.25 in. (15.2 × 34.8 × 15.9 cm)
Height x Diameter (b): 0.813 × 2.75 in. (2.1 × 7 cm)
Height x Diameter (c): 1.25 × 3.25 in. (3.2 × 8.3 cm)
Inscriptions(a)
Front of scale bar has marked weight demarcations from "0" to "14" with even numbers marked.

(b)
Raised text on top "1 / LB".

(c)
Raised text on top "2 / LB".
Marks(a)
Engraved text on top center of base "PENN SCALE MFG. Co. INC. / PHILA., PA. U.S.A."

(b)
Raised text on underside at center inside a diamond "PS".

(c)
Raised text on underside at center inside a diamond "PS".
Historical NotesBalance scale. 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 person James Elwood McGinnis

Related person Sharon McGinnis Young

Related person Bonnie McGinnis Vello

Related person Noreen McGinnis Campbell

Subjects