在古代沒有物理學質量的概念下，口語上習慣將等臂槓桿衡器稱為「天平」，而將不等臂槓桿衡器稱為「秤」。展品為日本時期流傳下來延續至臺灣光復早期使用。

In ancient times, without the concept of mass in physics, the equal-arm balance was commonly referred to as a “scale,” while the unequal-arm balance was called a “weighing scale.” This exhibit dates from the Japanese period to the early post-war era in Taiwan.