FURTHER PIANO TOKEN ISSUER ASSISTANCE SOUGHT

Two weeks ago we ran a notice about the second edition of A Tune for a Token by Q. David Bowers. The first was published by the Token and Medal Society in 1975 and became the standard reference on this admittedly limited and esoteric series—nickel-size tokens, mostly brass, used to play tunes in coin-operated electric pianos and music boxes circa 1896 to the late 1920s. Now comes the second edition, also to be published by TAMS. Vastly enhanced and expanded, it is expected to be 200 to 300 pages in length and in full color. David Schenkman has been the main advisor and has also contributed the foreword. Further information as to ordering will be made available this summer.

While many issuers of tokens have been tracked down, some remain unknown—“mavericks” as they are called by token collectors.

It would seem that such issuers as Beck & Stener, Puss & Davis, and Mayberry & Boyer probably advertised somewhere or were otherwise listed, and can be found today. Other names such as Carl’s Place, Empress Café, and Geo. Weaver may be forever unattributable, although those that have street names might be able to be traced.

Mysteries include these, some with clues based on other lettering on the token:

B & H Music Co. • B-350: Beck & Stener • B-470: The Big Onion • B-500: Al. Blase [6th & 7th, Washington] • B-780: The Buffalo

C-450: Carl’s Place • C-550: C.C.G. (Omaha, NE?) • C-820: C.J. Connell • C-850: Corner Café • C-855: Corner 151 Café • C-890: Cozy Corner Bar

D-130: Daugherty Bros.

E-570: Empress Café [12th & Jackson]

F-480: Fitzpatrick PA 9618 [may be the number of a lodge in Pennsylvania?]

G-310: Geo. & Joe’s Place

H-150: H. & J. Place

J-250: Jackson St. Drug Store •J-650 [329 Mo. Ave.]

K-440: Charles Kennedy’s • K-800: Kuhlmann’s Café

M-300: Manhattan Café • M-320: Manhattan Pool Room • M-360: H.E. Mann Studios [token made by the Los Angeles Rubber Stamp Co.] • M-475: Marshall Music Co. • M-520: Mayberry and Boyer Saloon • M-540: Maynard’s Piano Orchestra [2004-2020 Market St.] • M-600: McNabb’s • M-680: Meile Bros. Café • M-730• E.T. Messinger • M-740: Metz & Weber • M-860: The Monogram / J.B.

N-620: Norton Pharmacy Inc.

P-140: P. & H. Music Co. • P-300: Palm Garden • P-390: Patty’s Place • P-840: Puss & Davis

R-550: Rilobon • R-760: Royal Music Hall • R-840: Ada Russel

S-260: A. Schultes • S-380: Soll R. Scott • S-720: Smoke House

T-160: J.D. Taylor Cigar Store • T-300: John Thieman Café • T-310: John Thieman Café

W-440: W.E. & S. Co. • W-480: Geo. Weaver • W-500: C. Webber • W-530: Weber Music Co. • W-680: Western Sales Corp’n • W-750: J.L. Wilson

If you can corral any of these mavericks, let Dave Bowers know at qdbarchive@metrocast.net and you’ll receive a reply. Dave, a frequent contributor to eSylum, advises your editor that he will be at the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo in Baltimore this coming Thursday and also on Friday morning, in case you want to track him down and say

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
ASSISTANCE SOUGHT IN IDENTIFYING TOKEN ISSUERS (http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n22a27.html)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web