52.5 High, Protruding shelf like brackets are 28 inches high top hole is 5.5 wide, bottom hole is 73/4 wide Manufactured by E. & T. Fairbanks & Co. (founded in 1830 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont), these columns were essential components used to support the massive weighing mechanisms found in train depots and warehouses.Key FeaturesDesign: The pillars are characterized by their classic tapered fluted design and ornate top caps, typical of industrial equipment from the 1880s to the early 1900s.Brackets: The small protruding shelf-like brackets on the sides originally held the horizontal weighing beam or auxiliary lever rods that transmitted force from the platform to the scale's head.Function: Unlike decorative architectural columns, these were "heavily reinforced" to handle the extreme weight of locomotives or freight wagons while maintaining the precision required for legal-for-trade weighing.Historical ContextThese specific types of fluted columns were often salvaged from railroad track scales or large warehouse floor scales. Fairbanks revolutionized industry with the "platform scale," which used a system of underground levers to allow heavy loads to be weighed at ground level rather than being hoisted.Today, such pillars are highly sought after for industrial salvage decor, often being refinished for use as lamp bases, table legs, or architectural statement