Wow haven't seen one of those in a few years, like maybe 32 years. I spent 8 years in the scale business from 76-84 and learned and worked on mechanical dial scales just like that. Very intricate inside. I had to make them liner all though out the dial, it was a challenge to say the least, I always had weights and measures inspectors checking my work, watching me work.

Then load cells were coming into play and forever changed the way we weigh things.

I haven't read the whole thread, but it sounds like are are obsessed with weigh savings, I salute you, cool deal!! and super trick.