#38 • Commercial Country Ham Scale Associated with the Sanders Family Food Operations

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

High bid $500.00

Status: Sold

DESCRIPTION Early commercial cast iron and steel platform scale believed to have been used in connection with the Sanders family's country ham business. The scale features a large rectangular weighing platform, upright column, balance beam with sliding counterweight, and hanging weight indicator. Retaining its original industrial construction, the piece displays substantial wear, oxidation, and patina consistent with decades of commercial use. Scales of this type were commonly used in meat processing facilities, butcher shops, grocery markets, and food service operations for weighing cured hams and other large meat products. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE While Colonel Sanders is best known for Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Sanders family's food enterprises extended beyond fried chicken. In later years, the family operated Claudia Sanders Kentucky Country Hams, a business dedicated to the production and sale of traditional Kentucky country hams. Believed to have been associated with those ham operations, this commercial platform scale represents the practical side of the Sanders food business. Equipment of this type was used to weigh cured hams and other meat products for processing, inventory management, and sale. As such, it provides a tangible connection to a lesser-known chapter of the Sanders family legacy and Kentucky's rich tradition of country ham production. STORY & CONTEXT Many artifacts associated with Colonel and Claudia Sanders reflect the public success of the Kentucky Fried Chicken brand. This scale tells a different story. Believed to have been used in connection with the Sanders family's country ham business, an enterprise that complemented the restaurant and hospitality ventures for which Colonel and Claudia Sanders became famous, this piece reflects the day-to-day realities of operating a food business. Heavy-duty scales such as this were essential tools in meat processing and distribution, where accuracy and consistency were critical to daily operations. Unlike presentation pieces or commemorative items, this artifact represents the working side of the Sanders enterprise. Its substantial construction, industrial design, and decades of wear speak to a life of practical use rather than display. The scale offers collectors a rare glimpse into an often-overlooked aspect of the Sanders family's business interests and serves as a tangible reminder of Kentucky's long tradition of country ham production. PROVENANCE From the preserved collection associated with Colonel Harland Sanders and Claudia Sanders, maintained by the Settle family at Blackwood Hall. The collection was preserved through the longstanding relationship between the Sanders and Settle families and remained together for decades. CONDITION Presented in as-found condition with oxidation, surface rust, scratches, and wear throughout. Balance beam, hanging weight assembly, platform, and structural components remain present. Untested and offered as a historical artifact.