1935 Fun Token

21mm, br

About this token:

• Alan writes: I have one identical (except 1937) on which face highlights are only moderately worn. Reverse is also quite clear though token is somewhat stained on both sides.
• Allyn writes: I am a South African collector. Way back in 1966 our local museum in Johannesburg - the Africana Museum - produced a catalogue of the tokens they had in their collection. This, for the most part, comprised two collections that had been left to them in the Thirties by two early researchers and also the collection that had been put together by Lt Col. Knobel whom we recognise as the Father of token collecting in this country and who died in the Fifties. Their catalogue was compiled in 1966 and in the "Unknown" section this particular token is listed - U.74 (yes, there are a large number of unattributed pieces). The description is as follows:
  Brass. Diameter 21,2mm Thickness 1,9mm
  OBVERSE : Smiling female bust. In exergue : "1935". Milled border.
  REVERSE : Centre field blank. Legend around "AMUSEMENT ONLY' 'FUN TOKEN' Milled border.
  EDGE : Plain REF.NO. 65/1225
  Sadly, what was "unknown" forty years ago is still unknown today. In the Thirties, as you know, the old slot machines abounded. They doubtless came from the States where they could be activated with a cent, but as our old pennies were considerably larger, these "fun tokens" might have been the means devised to allow the locals to sample the joys of the Peep-show or whatever. This, of course, is only speculation. I set about putting into an album all the tokens that were then listed as "Unknown" and this is how I happen to have these oddments in my collection. As with most issues, varieties abound, and mine are as follows : (Incidentally none of them reflects the ravages of time as well as yours!)
  (a) As described above (and I imagine similar to yours)
  (b) Similar obverse, but plain reverse.
  (c) Similar obverse, but dated 1937. Plain reverse.
• Daniel writes: my uncle found a similiar 1935 token while we were metal detecting a month ago. The design on the front is the same, but it does not have anything on the back.
• Jerry writes: There is a similar token (below) dated 1938 has the woman's face, and is from Lawton Novelty Co. (Oklahoma, Lawton), back has for amusement only. [There is definately a resemblance, but the style of the head is very different. We'll need more information to tell if these tokens are actually related or not.]
  

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