Vintage-style handheld spring scale

This appears to be a vintage-style handheld spring scale, typically used for weighing fish or small luggage. The item is constructed from metal with a dull, grey patina that is consistent with aged steel or a lead alloy. It features a torpedo-shaped central body with a cylindrical spring housing. A metal hook is attached to one end via a singular eyelet, while the opposite end features a pull-ring and a graduated metal slide displaying numerical increments in pounds (LBS). The body is stamped with several lines of text. The top edge reads 'NOT LEGAL FOR USE IN TRADE PAT. APPL'D. FOR', while the bottom edge is marked 'MADE BY BRIN MFG. CO. INC. NEWARK, N.J. U.S.A.'. These markings suggest a mid-20th-century American manufacturing origin, though the exact age remains unverified without physical testing. The surface shows signs of age-related wear, including minor pitting, surface oxidation, and general scuffing consistent with a utilitarian tool. The user-supplied information regarding the manufacturer matches the visible markings on the item, although all such claims are considered unverified hypotheses until an in-person expert inspection is conducted.

Based on the provided image, I have examined this vintage-style handheld spring scale which bears markings consistent with the Brin Mfg. Co. Inc. of Newark, N.J. Per the user-supplied information, the item is attributed to this specific manufacturer, though I cannot verify this manufacturer or the item's age from a photograph alone. The markings 'NOT LEGAL FOR USE IN TRADE' and 'PAT. APPL'D. FOR' suggest a mid-20th-century mass-produced utilitarian tool. From what I can see, the metal displays a dull patina and signs of surface oxidation and pitting, which are typical for an object of this age and function. The estimated value of $15 - $35 assumes the attribution to the Brin Mfg. Co. is correct; items of this type are common in the secondary market for antique tools and hardware. Market demand for such scales is generally stable among collectors of Americana or fishing memorabilia, though it remains a lower-tier collectible due to high production volumes. Because I cannot physically test the spring mechanism or confirm the metal composition, this value is a hypothesis. To confirm its status beyond a working assumption, an in-person inspection by a tool specialist or documentation of its provenance would be required. If this item were found to be a modern reproduction or if the interior mechanism is non-functional, the value would likely drop below $10. Conversely, if it were a rarer variant or in mint condition, it might reach the higher end of the provided range. A physical examination is essential to determine if the markings are contemporary with the manufacture.