TUMBREL

An incomplete copper alloy trebuchet or tumbrel-type folding coin balance probably dating to the 13th, 14th or 15th century.

This type of balance for weighing coins was formed from two arms which pivot in the middle allowing the balance to be opened into a cross shape to be used, or folded flat. One arm would have included an integral pan and weight. Only half of the pan arm survives with the pan half itself missing. The wider arm which contains the hinge narrows to a point at one end and in the centre is the box which contains a slot through which the thinner arm pivots on a pin that bridges the two sides of the box. Half of the reverse of the wider arm is hollow to allow the smaller arm to fold into it. This half is C-shaped in cross-section (and 6.12mm thick), the other half, like the pan arm, is flat and rectangular in cross-section (measuring 1.50mm thick).

The front of the wider arm is decorated with incised lines and cast decoration. The pointed terminal has two raised curved ridges. The smaller arm is rectangular in section at the hinge point but then is tapered and rounded in section to allow it to fit into the hollow on the wider arm. The two arms have fused together through corrosion.

Similar and more complete examples are recorded on the PAS database, see for example SWYOR-6D4488 and DUR-76B771.