THE FARE BOX A Monthly Newsletter for Transportation Token Collectors Editor Distribution Manager Classified Manager Assistant Editor Bob Schneider 757-713-0786 [email protected]Keith Haney 361-563-7021 [email protected]Bob Hewey 860-643-5701 [email protected]Greg Acton 757-642-1689 [email protected]VOLUME 74, NUMBER 8 AUGUST 2020 OUR 878TH ISSUE - - Obituaries We are saddened to learn of the passing of two lifetime members: Dr. Harold Don Allen L-441 and Bruce Pasarow L-1574. Dr. Harold Allen of Brossard PQ Canada passed away July 11, 2020 at the age of 89. Dr. Allen was both a prominent numismatist and a prominent mathematician. He was born in Montreal and received a PhD in Mathematics from Rutgers in 1977. He taught for 51 years in various locations in Quebec then at the Nova Scotia Teachers College in Truro NS. Later on, he was instrumental in establishing a teachers education program in Nunavut in the Canadian Arctic. As a numismatist, he was a life member of numerous Canadian organizations and wrote hundreds of articles for numismatic journals. In 1959, he hosted a regular television program broadcast on Nova Scotia television. He traveled extensively and visited all 48 contiguous American states plus Hawaii. His wife Fran predeceded him in April 2018. Dr. Allen was survived by four children. Bruce Pasarow of Buena Park CA passed away March 29, 2020 at the age of 69. Bruce was survived by his wife Deborah. We have the following new applications for AVA Membership. R-3568 - John Mutch, 7931 W. Crestwood Drive, Boise, ID 83704-3022, Email address: [email protected], Phone: 208-376-3022, Collects: US and Car Wash and Trade Tokens, Proposed by Wally Stiers ADDRESS CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS R-3559 Leonard Weeks – new address is: 7 Heath St. #7, Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064 R-3342 Bob Busby – new email address is: [email protected]R-3567 Jeffery Holland – his membership number was incorrectly listed – this is his correct membership number
Transcript
THE FARE BOX A Monthly Newsletter for Transportation Token Collectors
COLUMBUS INDIANA STREET RAILWAY – CELLULOID FARE TOKEN By Curtis Judge # 1566 One of the major players in the development of Columbus, Indiana was Mr. John S. Crump. Crump had a
hand in many projects including the Columbus Street Railway, in which he was the majority shareholder.
The original mule car line opened in September of 1890 and ran from the Crump Theater downtown to
Orinoco Avenue. The line grew and added several additional
miles of track. In 1893 the system was electrified at a cost of
$16,419.00 and was extended out to East Columbus. The
trolleys operated on a 30 minute schedule for a fare of $0.05.
Around 1900 the system name was changed from the J.S. Crump
Railway to the Columbus Street Railway.
The token issued by the company is listed as Indiana 180-A in
Atwood’s catalog. It is 23mm made from yellow celluloid. The
obverse and reverse are cosimilar in design. Catalog valuation is
given as $15.00 and nice pieces are available in that price range.
Exact mintage numbers and date for this token are not known.
The gentlemen pictured below is Mr. John S. Crump owner of the railway.
The two images below on the right show the first mule car operated
in downtown Columbus and the first electric trolley used by the
company. Crump prominently displayed his name on the side of the
electrics. The final image on
the bottom is one of the
later circa early 1900’s
electric street cars in a
winter setting traveling
down a residential street in
East Columbus.
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Jellico Birdeye and Northern Railway Token by Joel Bernstein
I have received two conflicting chains of emails concerning a 35mm aluminum token of the Jellico Birdeye and
Northern Railway. Individual One insisted the token be listed while Individual Two believes that the token is
questionable.
The token was recently sold on eBay by a seller from Tennessee. The same seller also sold a number of coal script
tokens which had designs very similar to the railroad token. On the descriptions for two of the coal script tokens,
the seller specifically mentioned that the token was probably a fake. Individual Two believes that the issue with
those particular tokens casts doubts on all other tokens being sold including the above railroad token. Individual
Two contacted the seller about this matter. The seller said that he purchased all the tokens being sold as a lot from
the same person. He furthermore stated that if any purchaser is uncomfortable with a token, he will offer a full
refund.
I am not listing this token yet but would appreciate feedback from AVA members as to whether it should be
included in the catalog as a regular issue or as a fantasy or should not be included at all.
The Jellico Birdeye and Northern Railway was a short coal orientated railroad from Jellico Tennessee on the
Kentucky border running northeasterly for 7 miles to Halsey Kentucky. The August 1897 Official Railroad Guide
listed the railroad on page 780 and indicated that 3 round trips were offered daily. E.T. Halsey was president of the
railroad and had an office in Louisville. Mr. Halsey also operated a number of coal mines in the Halsey area.
A post office was established in Halsey on December 10, 1892. In September 1893, the railroad was opened. In
1902, the railroad was purchased by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. In August 1912, the post office closed.
In 1914, the railroad ceased operations. Small railroads serving coal mines generally had short lives. It was not
uncommon for the rails to be picked up after the coal mines petered out and moved to a more remunerative
location.
Halsey no longer exists. If one wishes to use Google Maps, the site of Halsey can be found in an area identified as
Birdeye Hollow along what is now called Gatliff Road and along Cane Creek. It can be reached by automobile by
traversing a number of back roads east of Highway 25.
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Holes With A Purpose
By Benjamin Patrick Hale
Have you ever passed on picking up a token only to discover later that you shouldn’t have? Being new
to collecting transportation tokens, I have done this several times. One type that I have passed on are
tokens that have been pierced but are not listed in the Atwood-Coffee Catalogue as such.
Tokens are often pierced and made into jewelry. A quick search on eBay will give you many examples of
tokens made into earrings, charms on bracelets, cufflinks and even buttons. I have always assumed that
transportation tokens that are pierced, and not “catalogue” listed as such, were always done so by
people for this purpose. However, recently I found out that that is not always the case.
I have only been seriously collecting transportation tokens since April 2020. In this short amount of
time, I have met and talked with many AVA members and other token collectors via email and phone. I
am extremely impressed with how nice, friendly, and helpful everyone is. One such helpful collector
and former AVA member (#1125) is Lee Nott.
I began talking with Lee after I purchased an old maverick transportation token from him. He had been
cleaning out some boxes and selling a few items. During his cleaning he had come across some Easy
Street buttons from St. Louis, Missouri that were used as bus passes and asked if I would like them at no
charge. I enthusiastically took him up on his offer. When I received the package, Lee had added other
items to it. One of these items was a limited-edition booklet of “Salesmen’s Samples” that was issued
by the North Eastern Vecturist Association in July 1972.
The booklet contained two Fare Box articles on salesmen’s samples from February 1970 and June 1971.
It also contained xerox copies of three salesmen’s samples cards and four salesmen’s sample tokens
from one of the cards. The tokens were regular issue tokens that were pierced close to their edge. As
soon as I saw them, it dawned on me that I had seen tokens like these before but passed over them
because I thought they had been pierced by someone for jewelry. I did not know that some
manufacturers had pierced some of their tokens to attached to cards as salesmen samples. I only
thought that a token manufacturer sent out manufacturer’s samples such as the ones listed in the
Atwood-Coffee Catalogue.
Below is the full article on salesmen’s samples from February 1970 and a section of John Coffee’s article
on The Scovill Manufacturing Company from June of 1971 that were reprinted in the booklet I received
from Lee. I hope that you find them as informative as I have. And remember the next time you quickly
want to pass on a token that you assume has been altered, it just may need a second look.
Salesmen’s Samples
By Foster B. Pollack
The Fare Box, February 1970
Have you ever come across transportation tokens with a small hole near the edge of the token? If you
have then in all probability, they were salesmen's samples. For me, it was a question of being in the right
place at the right time.
- PAGE 98 - - AUGUST 2020 -
I was fortunate enough to stop in to see Milton Dinkin of the Caro-Len Coin Co., a well-known New York
token and medal dealer, when he was involved in the purchase of tokens from a long-retired former
salesman for a token manufacturer. This was a huge transaction and took Reny weeks to consummate.
True to his word Milton Dinkin called me and gave me first crack at buying some of the tokens. I was
also given the following Information on some of these tokens.
During the late 'teens and early twenties token manufacturers use to make up sample cards with their
advertisements printed on them. These cards were pre-punched to fit several different size tokens
which were then fitted in and wired to the card thru the hole near the edge of the token. This kept the
token from falling out of the card. These "sample cards" were then handed out to prospective users of
tokens as samples of the companies' work.
Then just after World War II, when wide-spread use of tokens came into being, new sample cards were
made. But this time they made cards similar to the coin albums that have celluloid slides, with windows
on both sides and a center slide pre-punched to fit the tokens. These were used by the company
salesmen, mailed to prospective users, and given to some visitors who might be future users.
Almost all of these tokens are in brilliant uncirculated condition, and it is my personal opinion that these
tokens should have a separate listing as "Salesmen's Samples." The following is a list of the tokens I was
able to purchase : Cal 575 M (1 hole on side) ; 575 N (1 hole on side) ** ; Cal 760 F (i hole on side) **;
Conn 85 C (I hole on side) ; Conn 320 A (2 holes on top & bottom) ; Mass 550 A (1 hole on top) ; Mass
550 B (2 holes on top & bottom) ; NJ 115 D (1 hole on side) ** ; Pa 750 Y (1 hole on side) ** ; RI 700 E (1
hole on top) ; Tenn 690 E (1 hole on top) . A set of those tokens marked with ** has been donated to the
AVA archives.
A section from the article, “The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury,
Connecticut”
By J.M. Coffee
The Fare Box, June 1971
Melvin Fuld has lent me three sets of sample tokens distributed by Scovill. These come in cards. The
oldest is a grey card proclaiming that the firm "have made millions of streetcar tokens similar to the
above samples in a number of styles and sizes." It goes on to state that "the best assurance against a
counterfeit is to use a first-class token. No other private establishment has facilities equal to ours for
quantity production, prompt deliveries and a coin quality token. Starting with the raw materials, we
fabricate our own brass and nickel silver, create our own designs, build the tools, dies and special
machinery and produce tokens which express the highest quality in fine die work. We adhere strictly to
gauge tolerances. Besides tokens, we supply the electrical railway field with uniform buttons and
condenser tubing." Set into the card, and held in place by staples which fit through small holes drilled in
the tokens, are RI 700 E, Tenn 690 E, and Mass 550 B. A second sample card is green, with four tokens
fitted into a slide. "Scovill tokens," it says, "are made by the same exacting methods as United States
Government coins." On the other side it says: "These samples are representative of various types of fare
tokens made for transportation companies, with piercing either located or not located. Nickel silver is
the most commonly used copper base alloy, although yellow brass, red brass, aluminum, steel or other
metals can be furnished." The card contains NJ 115 G, Pa 750 Y, Cal 760 F, and Cal 575 0. All tokens are
- AUGUST 2020 - - PAGE 99 -
pierced with small holes toward the edge. The third card contains five tokens in a little polyethylene
envelope stapled on the inside of the fold. They are the same four tokens in the second card, plus IL 150
Z. The first four are still pierced; IL 150 Z is not pierced. The message is about the same as the second
card, but added is information about sizes : "Tokens can be furnished in diameters .667" or less,
between .718" and .804", between .855" and .915", and .970" or larger (which sizes will not operate
coin devices).”
- PAGE 100 - - AUGUST 2020 -
- AUGUST 2020 - - PAGE 101 -
One City, Two Tokens, Three Countries by Yosef Sa’ar
Urban transportation systems are associated with individual cities or adjacent cities. As a
result of wars and political changes, sometimes cities pass from the sovereignty of one country to
another. Above are two tokens from the city of Teschen.
From 1653 until the First World War, the Duchy and City of Teschen were ruled by the
Hapsburg Dynasty of Austria. From 1892 the currency was the krone divided into 100 hellers. In
1909 the city government started construction of an electric street railway ( strassenbahn in
German), facilitated by the Vienna company AEG. Regular passenger service started on 11
February 1911. Track gauge was one meter and the single line operated from Biaska Street, via
Market Square, Głęboka Street, over the Olza River Bridge and on to the railway station, a total
of 1793 meters, about 1.1 miles. The initial staff consisted of 21 employees with the drivers and
service workers first training in Vienna.
In 1920, after World War I, the city was divided into two cities, Cieszyn in Poland and Český
Těšín in Czechoslovakia. For a brief time the line continued to operate with a tight control at the
Olza River border. Such an arrangement proved infeasible and the last tram ran on 2 April 1921.
Afterwards, each city operated a bus service of their own. The Tramcars were sold in Poland.
Twelve and six heller fare tokens are known from Städtische Strassenbahn Teschen. The
aluminium 12 heller for adults has a 20 millimetre width, while the brass six heller for children is
17 millimetres. Both pieces are rare and seldom seen. Photos: Maciej Dembiniok.
- PAGE 102 - - AUGUST 2020 -
SUPPLEMENT #56 TO CAR WASH TOKENS OF NORTH AMERICA By James P. Delaney
COLORADO LITTLETON 6200 GOOD FOR .50 ON / SOUTHERN / GABLES ENCO / 2095 SO. /
WADSWORTH / WASH-LUBE-OR OIL-CHANGE L We 38 R Wooden Nickel / (buffalo left) / Untied States of America
(circle border) (black printing) 2.50 ILLINOIS SAVANNA 7780 FREE WET WASH / STANDARD (logo) / DAUPHIN-GARVIN A We 38 R Have / A / Nice / Day (black printing) 1.50 INDIANNA FORT WAYNE 2900 (formerly UNID 197) HANDY DANDY / (design) / SERVICE / CENTER (all incuse) G B 24 R (same as obverse) (Vars:) 3.00
a. with 2 ears b. with ears removed
KENTUCKY LOUISVILLE 5100 (formerly UNID 349 and 350)
GOOD FOR 50¢ ON WASH OR GREASE JOB / ROUBIEU / GULF SERVICE / 3101 PRESTON / ST. / PH. 637-9807 E We 38 R Wooden Nickel / - / (buffalo left) / / Untied States of America
(all in circle border) 1.50 F We 38 R Wooden Nickel / (buffalo left) / Untied States of America (all in circle border) 1.50 MARYLAND LEXINGTON PARK 6500 (added variations) XTREME KLEEN / (50's Ford T-Bird) / CAR WASH C Bz 25 R No / Cash / Value 1.00
a. VALUE is 17mm b. VALUE is 18mm
NEW YORK LIVERPOOL 4970 OLD LIVERPOOL / WORTH / 25¢ ON / SHELL WAX / SHINE / ROAD SHELL E o We 38 R Wooden Nickel / (Indian head facing left, 3 feathers)(black printing) 1.00 OKLAHOMA TULSA 8600 • GOOD FOR A RETURN CAR WASH • / LASER / CAR / WASH / GOOD FOR A RETURN CAR WASH I Pr ?? R Primeaux / Kia (with stars above and below) 5.00 TEXAS GALVESTON 3700 (formerly UNID 1) 1-2-3 CAR WASH 1409-23rd VALUE 25¢ ON $1.75 CAR WASH A A 25 R (blank) 2.50 UTAH SANDY 7600 8370 S. – 700 E. / MOM’S / CARWASH / SANDY, UTAH Q B 25 R (eagle on emblem over wreath) / RWM (all in circle of 20 stars) 1.50
- AUGUST 2020 - - PAGE 103 -
VERMONT ESSEX JUNCTION 1200 (formerly UNID 205) HUNTER’S / SUNOCO / SERVICE (all incuse black lettering) A B 23 R (blank) 5.00 VIRGINIA RICHMOND 7200 (car) SPLASH / -N- DASH / CAR WASH / RICHMOND, VA L Bz 27 R (American flag) / HM 1.00 WASHINGTON DES MOINES 2310 THE / THIRSTY / BEAVER / CAR / WASH A B 25 R Satisfaction Guaranteed / (bubbles) / Car / Wash / •HM• / No Cash Value 1.00 MILL CREEK 5500 • DIAMOND CAR WASH • / D (inside diamond) / DIAMONDCW.COM B B/M 25 R • Vacuum &Vending Token • / $100 (in circle) / No Cash Value • No Refunds (bronze with 15mm steel center) (reeded edge) 1.00 MOUNT VERNON 5800 BLUE / COW / CARWASH / MT. VERNON & ANACORTES, WA D WM 29 R Good • For • One Dollar • In • Trade / 100 / HH 1.00 E WM 29 R Good • For • One Dollar • In • Trade / 100 / HM 1.00 OLYMPIA 6000 (formerly UNID 116) CLEAN (incuse) / FINISH (incuse) (inside oval) / CAR / WASH (between 2 checkered flags) (all inside dashed border) B B 22 R Non Refundable / Self / Service / Car Wash / Token /
No Cash Value (all in dashed border) (reeded edge) 1.00 PUYALLUP 7200 BIG E-Z / (convertible car left) / CAR WASH E K 25 R $1.00 / RWM / No Cash Value 1.00 RICHLAND 7530 TRI-CITIES / BUSH / CAR / WASH (in oval) / WASHINGTON H NpB 27 R Non Refundable / Wash / Token / •HM• / No Cash Value 1.00 SEA TAC 7780 GOOD FOR 25¢ ON LUBE OR WASH / SEA TAC / SHELL /
CH 2-9952 / ADJACENT SWEPT-WING INN A We 38 R Wooden Nickel / - / (bison, left) / / Untied States of America (all in a circle border) 1.50 SEATTLE 7800 ELEPHANT / (elephant washing back) / EST. 1951 / SUPER CAR WASH R NpZ 23 R Vacuum / Vacuum (on side of upright vacuum) / Token 1.00 TOTEM LAKE 9020
WOODY'S / (side of a Ford "Woody" facing right) / CAR WASH J Bz 27 R • One Dollar in Trade • / $100 / Woody's / Car Wash (all in circle) / No Cash Value • No Refunds 1.00 Send new discoveries to Jim Delaney at: 1 Winder Crescent in Newport News, VA 23606-1762 (Email: [email protected]) or visit CAR WASH TOKENS at www.facebook.com/groups/carwashtokens/
IOWA Manning 570 (reported by Daniel Anderson) WEST BROS. /BUS AND TRANSFER/ LINE/ MANNING, /IA. B A 25 Sd Good on One/ Bus Ride/ To Depot/ Only $400.00
NEW JERSEY Camden 115 (reported by Bill Mullins) HILL & HORNER TRANS. CO.,INC. O B 29 Sd 15¢ (15 is incuse) 25.00
(formerly listed as Unidentified 313) HILL & HORNER TRANS. CO.,INC. ¢ (Number with reverse is stamped on both sides) P B 26 Sd Hill & Horner Trans. Co. Inc. 30 25.00
(formerly listed as Unidentified 9) HILL & HORNER TRANS. CO.,INC. ¢ (Number with reverse is stamped on both sides) Q B 26 Sd Hill & Horner Trans. Co. Inc. 40 25.00
(formerly listed as Unidentified 10) HILL & HORNER TRANS. CO.,INC. ¢ (Number with reverse is stamped on both sides) R B 26 Sd Hill & Horner Trans. Co. Inc. 50 25.00
(formerly listed as Unidentified 11)
SOUTH DAKOTA Yankton 980 (reported by Jerome Schaeper) YANKTON/ BUS AND /TRANSFER/ LINE A A 32 Sd Return Check/ From Hotel/ To Depot/ 300.00 Edgerton/ & Coacher/ Props.
Corrections to A-C 7E (reported by Richard Mallicote)
KY 845 A - remove the value of 0.00.
Correction to July 2020 Fare Box (reported by Patrick Hale)
NV 350 A - change mint mark to HM.
- AUGUST 2020 - - PAGE 105 -
Discussion
IA 570 B is the second depotel listed from Manning Iowa. Manning was on both the Chicago and Northwestern and Milwaukee Road railroads. On the C&NW, it was located on a branch between Carroll IA and Harlan IA. Manning was on the main line of the Milwaukee Road between Chicago and Omaha. The current population is about 1,500. The riddle of the long unidentified Hill & Horner tokens has finally been resolved. Three of them were first reported in the October 1978 Fare Box. The Camden NJ Courier Post of April 13, 1922 mentioned that Russell Sage, a city fireman filed suit against the Hill & Horner Transportation Company which operated busses between Camden and Clayton. Therefore, unidentified 9,10,11, and 313 can now be assigned to Camden. Thanks to Bill Mullins for discovering this. The Yankton SD token is the first one listed for that city. Yankton had a street railway for a brief time but no tokens were issued. Yankton served as the capital of the Dakota Territory from 1861 to 1883. Jack McCall, the murderer of Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood was tried, convicted, and hanged in Yankton in 1877. It is not certain if the Spottsville KY 845 A token was ever used. It is known that restrikes were made from a die found at Meyer and Wenthe. If genuine tokens exist, they should be included as regular issues. Otherwise, they fall in the fantasy category. The intent of the catalog was to not place a value on this token so the 0.00 value should be deleted.
- AUGUST 2020 - - PAGE 107 -
January 7-10, 2021
FUN Winter Show– Florida United Numismatists Convention
Orlando, Florida
www.funtopics.com
February 4-6, 2021
Long Beach EXPO
Long Beach, California
www.longbeachexpo.com
March 11-13, 2021
ANA National Money Show – American Numismatic Association
Phoenix, Arizona
888-448-3262
March 12-14, 2021
NWCC - Northwest Coin Club’s 87thAnnual Money Show (Submitted by Luke Johnson)
Earle Brown Heritage Center 6156 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
www.northwestcoinclub.com
March 25-27, 2021**DATE CHANGE**
Whitman EXPO
Baltimore, Maryland
Lori Kraft 404-214-4373
April 9-11, 2021
PNNA – Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association (Submitted by Gary Knell)
Tukwila Community Center 12424 42nd Ave S. Tukwila, Washington
