This is one of my favorite things I own. I still have the original platforms with hand forged chains as well. 

Very cool

That is a lovely piece. I always think of the maker when we see things like this. The pride he showed in his work is obvious. He would be pleased that it has a good home and is being appreciated.

Beautiful tool! Especially the pivot with the alignment mark

Nice!! Nothing like an old tool that has done countless tasks over the years.

Ok, I’ll ask.. what is it? I thought perhaps it was a scale? 

Yeah me too!  What is it???

It looks like a latch and a latch hook, of some sort. Not a very specific guess, but perhaps it will inspire one of the site's savants to come up with the real use.

SLAG. 

It’s a cotton bale scale.  Kind of a nice one!  

Good Morning,

It's a beam from a scale. Maybe he is tired of pushing his weight around, LOL.

Neil