Title: Tobacco scale

Identifier: Tobacco Farm Life Museum   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/14258)

Description: When a farmer arrived at the warehouse with this truckload of tobacco, one of the first steps in getting it ready to auction off was to make sure that it was weighed accurately. Correct weighing of tobacco was important, especially during the quota system in which a farmer could only sell so many pounds of tobacco per year. Large scales like this one were used to make sure the weight of the tobacco was precise. Once the tobacco was on the scale, the weight could be read through a small window on the front. The weight was then recorded on the tobacco ticket, which was then stamped by the weightmaster to verify accuracy. Date approximated. The accompanying video provides a description of the item.