Weights were used for trading goods of a certain weight for a rated value of coins. Therefore these weights were very important to trades men and were marked and controlled by trade gild members. Adjusting these weights unlawfully could result in fines or even (harsh) punishments.

More commonly known weights are the standard knob weights. Although fairly new these can still be interesting. Most were intensively used in  Europe during the 19th century until the mid 20th century. As with their predecessors these were marked and calibrated by official gild/ government members who placed their markings upon these weights.

The weight above as a '10G' marking (10 grams) and three year markings: small letters 'r', 's' and 't', which repressent calibrations for 1947 - 1952.

This knob weight is more interesting: this is a '2 HEKTOGRAM' (200 grams) weight with 18 calibaration markings split up in two periods of usage.

The first 7 markings date from 1888-1897. The second 10 markings date from 1924-1941 - during the second world war this weight was not used for an extended period of time. Remarkably the 18th marking represent a calibration date of 1957-1958, during those years it was presumably in use for the last time.