#17 • ORIGINAL CASH REGISTER USED BY COLONEL HARLAND SANDERS AT CLAUDIA SANDERS DINNER HOUSE

Part of The Colonel Sanders Artifact Collection (live auction by The Menish Group Auction & Real Estate)

High bid $5,100.00

Status: Sold

Description Offered here is an original manual cash register used by Colonel Harland Sanders at the Claudia Sanders Dinner House. This historic register remained associated with the restaurant and survived the devastating fire that damaged portions of the property. Today it stands as a remarkable artifact from the operational history of one of Kentucky's most iconic restaurants and one of the few surviving business tools directly connected to Sanders' daily restaurant activities. Unlike later electronic systems, this register represents an earlier era of hospitality and restaurant management, when every transaction was manually recorded and every customer interaction passed directly through the hands of those operating the business. The register remains preserved in its post-fire condition, providing a tangible connection to both the restaurant's history and its resilience. Of particular interest, the contents of the register have reportedly remained undisturbed for many years. Whether business records, receipts, coins, or other remnants survive within the machine remains unknown.   Historical Significance Few objects are more closely connected to the day-to-day operation of a restaurant than its cash register. While signs, advertisements, and memorabilia help tell the story of a business, the cash register represents the actual exchange between restaurant and customer. It served as a working tool during a period when Colonel Sanders remained actively involved with the Claudia Sanders Dinner House and continued to engage with guests, staff, and visitors. The survival of the register through the restaurant fire adds an additional layer of historical significance, transforming it from a piece of equipment into a witness to an important chapter in the property's history.   Provenance From the Claudia Sanders Dinner House Collection. The register remained associated with the restaurant property and was preserved by the Settle family, longtime friends of Colonel Sanders and stewards of the Claudia Sanders legacy.   Condition Displays significant age, use, and fire-related effects consistent with its history. Operational status is unknown. Prospective bidders are encouraged to review all photographs and conduct their own inspection regarding condition, completeness, functionality, fire damage, restoration potential, and overall preservation.