This set came from the Macon Ridge Warehouse in Oak Grove,
Louisiana. They were retired from use in the mid 1950s. These
are virtually identical to "Gin Scales" except that they typically
had a larger capacity, up to 700lbs.
Louisiana. They were retired from use in the mid 1950s. These
are virtually identical to "Gin Scales" except that they typically
had a larger capacity, up to 700lbs.
Bales were rolled beneath the scales on a hand truck, then the
hooks were placed in the sides of the bale, and the a helper
would "pull the bull's tail" to lift it off the hand truck so that the
weighmaster could determine the weight and call out the weight
to be recorded. It was then tagged with a number and a classing
sample was removed. The weighmaster was a licensed and
bonded professional whose license had to be displayed on the
wall of the gin or compress.
hooks were placed in the sides of the bale, and the a helper
would "pull the bull's tail" to lift it off the hand truck so that the
weighmaster could determine the weight and call out the weight
to be recorded. It was then tagged with a number and a classing
sample was removed. The weighmaster was a licensed and
bonded professional whose license had to be displayed on the
wall of the gin or compress.
Interestingly enough, bales were penalized for weighing over
600lbs and could not be placed in the "loan"; a kind of commodi-
ty credit extended against bales in storage. A normal bale would
weigh about 585Lbs Overweight bales therefore, would be sold
to a cotton buyer, and provide the "Christmas money" for a
household.
600lbs and could not be placed in the "loan"; a kind of commodi-
ty credit extended against bales in storage. A normal bale would
weigh about 585Lbs Overweight bales therefore, would be sold
to a cotton buyer, and provide the "Christmas money" for a
household.
Scales were certified by the State Commissioner of Agriculture,
and this scale bears the faint certification of Dave L. Pearce. It
was donated to the Dave L. Pearce Memorial Foundation by Har-
old Russell, and the Macon Ridge, Warehouse company.
and this scale bears the faint certification of Dave L. Pearce. It
was donated to the Dave L. Pearce Memorial Foundation by Har-
old Russell, and the Macon Ridge, Warehouse company.
Warehouse
Cotton Scales
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