(see No. 17 & 18 below)
SERVICE STATION PREMIUM TOKENS
OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK
by Norman Peters TAMS 4537
Issued from the 1930s up to the mid 1950s, these
unusual tokens were given with the purchase of gasoline.
They were redeemable in merchandise which was displayed
at the station, or from a catalog. The merchandise usually
consisted of non-automotive products.
Old timers recall using the tokens, but not one
I questioned could recall just what the “15" or “V 2 ” stood
for (V 2 Point, 15 Points?). Almost all the tokens were
manufactured by the A. C. Gibson Company of Buffalo,
New York. A retired police officer recalls them as a
nuisance; they often jammed the five cent parking meters!
Some of the tokens have punched holes of various
shapes. This is not damage, but rather some sort of check
system used by the station owners or manufacturer.
The following listing was compiled from a collection
I recently purchased, plus pieces from my collection of
Buffalo, New York area tokens. Unless otherwise noted,
the tokens’ reverses are plain, except for the name A. C.
GIBSON CO. in tiny letters on one side or the other.
1. 760 ABBOTT RD. V 2 . Brass, 24mm; round hole
2. 600 AMHERST STREET. Rev : RECEIPT TOKEN.
Aluminum, 24mm
3. BAILEY & CLOVERDALE. Rev: RECEIPT TOKEN.
Aluminum, triangular
4. BAILEY & ELK V 2 . Aluminum, rectangular,
22x32mm
5. BAILEY & KERNS V 2 . Aluminum, rectangular,
19x37mm
6. BAILEY SERVICE STATION 1826 BAILEY AVE.
Rev: 5 OF THESE TOKENS GOOD FOR 254 IN
TRADE. Aluminum, 22mm
7. 1915 BROADWAY. Rev: RECEIPT TOKEN.
Aluminum, 25mm
8. CIVIC CENTER STATION 15, SO. ELMWOOD &
MOHAWK. Rev: LICENSED FOR SUPER
HYGRADE ONLY. Brass, 28mm
9. CIVIC CENTER STATION V 2 SO. ELMWOOD &
MOHAWK. Aluminum, 28mm; triangular hole
10. COLVIN & UNDEN. Rev: RECEIPT TOKEN.
Aluminum, 25mm
11. CURTISS SERVICE BROADWAY & CURTISS 15.
Brass, square, 25mm; round hole top right
12. Same as number 11, but value V 2
13. Same as number 11, but aluminum and triangular
hole.
14. Same as number 11, but diamond hole.
15. DELAWARE & AMHERST V 2 . Aluminum, 21mm
16. 951 DELEVAN & CORNWALL V 2 . Aluminum,
octagonal, 25mm; triangular hole
17. 1211 E. FERRY. Rev: RECEPT TOKEN.
Aluminum, 26mm
18. 1211 E. FERRY V 2 . Aluminum, scalloped, 28mm;
square hole
19. GENESEE & WENDE V 2 . Aluminu
