The man is the key to this token... B.F. Allen

[chukers]

I was hunting a new site yesterday and the finds were few and the field was pretty quiet... there are a few things we found... my partner found a 1902 Indian Head

I found a local business token from this area
a ROGERS silver plated spoon
7 brass tractor valve stems... I assume they are tractor

so what I want to know is if theses items I found go back further than the 1902 Indian Head penny...

I posted the tractor valve stems and the spoon to help date the field... The token is the important artifact here.... at least for me.


now the token has a name on it and I have a few references I found on the net to a man named B.F. Allen but he was in the Iowa and Chicago area and was an investor in banking. What I'd like help in finding if its the same man and how did he get into mens clothing... I know after 1877 he moved out west but I don't know what happened to him then... I'd like to find more.

http://livinghistoryfarms.blogspot.com/2010/08/40-famous-iowans-bf-allen.html

http://surnamesite.com/biography/allen.htm

I don't know if its the same man... the only reference I have is his name... nothing else matches... I'd like to know more about this token and the man.

Chukers

 

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[Mackaydon]

Re: The man is the key to this token...

Regarding your token:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Token-B-F-Allen-Eastland-Texas-One-Dollar-/230606791790
Don.....

 

[Cleetus]

Re: The man is the key to this token...

Cool! A Habberdashery Token

 

[Roland58]

Re: The man is the key to this token...

Yours looks every bit as good as the one pictured on eBay......that equals $45!! Nice find!

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: The man is the key to this token...

Great token score

 

[chukers]

Re: The man is the key to this token...

Regarding your token:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Token-B-F-Allen-Eastland-Texas-One-Dollar-/230606791790
Don.....

thats awesome! but I'd still like to know the his story is.... I'm still looking!

 

[chukers]

Re: The man is the key to this token...

Cool! A Habberdashery Token

a what?

 

[chukers]

Re: The man is the key to this token...

Yours looks every bit as good as the one pictured on eBay......that equals $45!! Nice find!

I got dozens and dozens of tokens it would be nice if they all would sell for that... but like most of you I'd never sell them unless I had to!

thanks

 

[Ken in Georgia]

Cool Find

 

[Mackaydon]

Chukers,
Your profile indicates you are from Eastland. I suggest you contact the Reference Desk as your library. If they can't direct you to the history of Mr. Allen's store, then I'd ask them for the name and number of your local historian--and then contact that person.
And, no doubt, someone in the Eastland County Museum & Historical Society could assist you.
Good luck,
Don...

 

[Silver Searcher]

The valve stems are from Truck Tubes, screw on to tube type

SS

 

[Mackaydon]

As to your question: Do these items predate 1902? I'd say 'no' regarding the token since there were only about 600 people in Eastland in 1902. I'd guess in the 1920's/1930s. Just saying.......

 

[olekyground]

Score! Easy money! Awesome token. If I had found it I would probably keep it for the fact that its advertising a old company that use to exist. tokens are kind of like old bottles. Bottles with actual store names embossed on them are worth much more then those with just Eastland Tx. For example. VERY COOL TOKEN!

 

[chukers]

Chukers,
Your profile indicates you are from Eastland. I suggest you contact the Reference Desk as your library. If they can't direct you to the history of Mr. Allen's store, then I'd ask them for the name and number of your local historian--and then contact that person.
And, no doubt, someone in the Eastland County Museum & Historical Society could assist you.
Good luck,
Don...

I am working on that... I am on a Facebook page "remember Eastland" kind of thing and Its full of (500+) people that were born and grew up in Eastland... so far none of them remember it... and some of those people were born and grew up as far back as 1920... so the hunt continues!


Thanks for the Ideas


Chukers

 

[chinasmith]

There won't be anyone alive today who recalls using the B. F. Allen token. This type of token was in use in the 1890's to 1910's period. An "outfitter" in this case is a clothing store, which may also have sold hats. Try a Google search of "b. f. allen" +eastland and see if that pulls up anything. Good Luck!

 

[chukers]

There won't be anyone alive today who recalls using the B. F. Allen token. This type of token was in use in the 1890's to 1910's period. An "outfitter" in this case is a clothing store, which may also have sold hats. Try a Google search of "b. f. allen" +eastland and see if that pulls up anything. Good Luck!

Good Idea.... but still nothing... I haven't given up... I know there is some info on this place somewhere out there.


Chukers

 

[Bramblefind]

Cool finds

There is a BF Allen listed in the Eastland, TX US Census for 1920. Showing as born about 1879 and employed in "Dry Goods". Wife is named Mildred. Also found this ad in a the Dallas Morning News (5/27/1923)

 

[chukers]

Cool finds

There is a BF Allen listed in the Eastland, TX US Census for 1920. Showing as born about 1879 and employed in "Dry Goods". Wife is named Mildred. Also found this ad in a the Dallas Morning News (5/27/1923)

wow! great research... that could be the same store... those kind of places had a little bit of everything like walmart does now days.... think back to little house on the prairie and Mr. Olsen's Store... it could of been like that...

that is so much more than I found or knew.... thank you very much!

Chukers

 

[Lakemonster]

It does sounds like a Haberdasher token....

A haberdasher is a person who sells mens items like clothes, ties... as well as mens needs like a fine razor and aftershaves and tonics etc.... and in the early days... probably a bottle or other novelties if it were a bit seedy.