Trade token, co-operative token

Draft: This ten shilling token was issued by G. Harlow, a wholesale vegetable salesman at Spitalfields market. During the 19th and well into the 20th centuries market traders supplied their goods to retailers in the wholesalers' own baskets and containers. The retailers paid a deposit for each container. When they returned the container they received back the deposit. To prevent dishonest people picking up unused containers lying near the wholesaler's stall, presenting them to the wholesaler and claiming back a deposit they had not paid, wholesalers took the precaution of giving a token as a receipt for the deposit. To claim back the deposit the retailer had to present both the token and the container. The system fell into disuse in the 1960s and by the 1970s had disappeared.

Tokens were made in a variety of metals and denominations ranging from 2 old pence to £5 according to the deposit paid. Many were like this one made by Ralph Neal of Percival Street. Its successor company, Charles Neal & Son, still makes stamped metal products like medals, dog tags and jewellery.

George Harlow is listed at Spitalfields market in the 1929 London Post Office Directory. Spitalfields market was established in 1682 and for over 200 years it was London's most important wholesale fruit and vegetable market. The market moved out of Spitalfields in 1991 to Leyton in East London and today New Spitalfields market is the UK's leading wholesale fruit and vegetable market. Spitalfields market itself is now known for its arts, crafts and fashion stalls and shops.Metallic checks were introduced in the mid 19th century by co-operative societies to enable members to obtain their dividend from purchases made at the store. The system was simple to operate. Checks were issued equal to the sum spent in the store, and were retained by the member until the quarterly or half yearly dividend was declared, the checks were then taken to the co-op office to be redeemed for cash. If the dividend was declared at 2/- in the pound, £5 in purchases would result in 10/- in coin of the realm.

Most societies abandoned their metallic checks for the 'climax' triple paper counterfoil system before 1920 an exception being the royal arsenal society whose checks were in use till 1960, that's why they are so common.The 1929 Post Office London Directory lists Williams Brothers Direct Supply Stores Ltd. grocers at two sites on Holloway Road north London, two sites on Caledonian Road, one site Hackney Road, Seven Sisters Road, Bethnal Green Road, two sites on Old Kent Road. With hardware dealers, oilmen and bakers at other sites.