Restoring Equilibrium

I confronted an uncalibrated brass steelyard arm trembling on the cast-iron baggage scale beside the parcel gate. An abandoned wicker basket rested halfway off the weighing plate, throwing the mechanical balance three full pounds into error. Stepping onto the treaded iron deck, I drove my oversized claw against the wicker weave, shoving the container flush against the scale's rear upright. Ascending the notched bronze column, I gripped the sliding brass poise with deliberate force, ratcheting it notch by notch along the graduated beam. With a sharp metallic click, the indicator blade locked dead-center against the brass index marker. Static equilibrium has been authoritatively restored.