Bishop’s Stortford Museum’s Object of the Month for September harks back to the Corn Exchange’s heyday

The chondrometer, a measuring instrument designed to determine the bulk density of grain, was donated to Bishop’s Stortford Museum in 1982.

At the time it was listed as having been used in the Corn Exchange on Market Square.

The brass instrument, in a handmade wooden case, would have been assembled to measure the weight of seed volumes using the calibrated brass bucket.

The hardwood ‘roll’ was used to level the grain in the bucket correctly, then the measuring arm allowed the volume to be converted into weight.

Different grains vary in density, so a bushel (defined as eight imperial gallons of water) of wheat weighs more than a bushel of barley.

In general, greater weight indicates better grain. But grain density also varies according to local climate, growing conditions and dryness, so a chondrometer was an important instrument to determine the quality of the product being sold.

The instructions in the lid advise a ‘careful manner’ in filling and ‘striking’ (levelling off with the roll).

The slider on the brass scale was to be moved to just where it would ‘preponderate’ (be superior in weight to) the bucket.

Specimen ‘pounds per bushel’ weights are given for wheat, rye, barley, oats, peas, small beans, Dutch clover, canary and rapeseed.

It was chosen as the museum’s Object of the Month for September by young curator Megan.

“I chose this object as I think it is a well thought out and interesting scientific development,” she said. “It being an ‘improved pocket chondrometer’ suggests the importance of honest trade.

“I also liked the language in the instructions. It is very specific and complex in vocabulary, instructing readers to ‘preponderate’ the bucket.

“Being an A-level Latinist, I particularly enjoyed the use of ‘caeteris paribus’ (‘all other things being equal’) in the instructions, presenting Latin as a useful language for scientific terminology as well as an ancient language.”

This and many other interesting items are on display at Bishop’s Stortford Museum in South Mill Arts.