BATHROOM SCALES, CIRCA 1870-1880 Signed 'W & T Avery, Birmingham'. In blond oak, leather and brass H. 138 cm (54 ¼ in.) Provenance: Christie's London sale, 17 May 2011, lot 492. Bathroom scales, signed 'W & T Avery, Birmingham', circa 1870-1880 An atypical example of the production of W. & T. Avery was formed in 1818 by brothers William and Thomas following the succession of Joseph Balden, whose scales they continued to make. W. & T. Avery enjoyed dazzling success and became the leading manufacturers of all kinds of scales in the 19th century.