Scales Corporation Limited is a major shipping agent, cool store operator, pet food processor and apple grower. But for most of its history, the core business, Geo. H. Scales Ltd., was a decidedly quirky venture. It began as a farmers' protest movement and for nearly 80 years it ran chartered wool ships against the Conference Lines. Scales's Articles of Association restricted ownership to sheepfarmers. It once made too high a profit for a director's conscience! In 1941 this tiny farmers' 'shipping line without ships' landed the monopoly rights to the mighty Soviet merchant marine's business. Drawing on a variety of sources, academic business historian Gavin McLean has unravelled the compelling story of one of New Zealand's most interesting businesses.