F & B (Canteen) Token - B & C Mills - Chennai

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F & B (Canteen) Token - B & C Mill

Inscription in English – B & C  / Mills REVERSE: Canteen Token

Square Token with rounded edges and Hole in the center.

Metal: Nickel       Weight: 3.24 g.    Size: 24 mm X 24 mm

About the Mill: Buckingham and Carnatic Mills, Madras popularly known as B & C Mills, were a part of M/s Binny and Co. one of the biggest private enterprises in the then city of Madras (now Chennai).
The Buckingham Mills was registered on 17 August 1876 and started functioning in January 1878 while The Carnatic Mills were founded on 30 June 1881. The two companies were merged in 1920 and were then called the Buckingham & Carnatic Mills. The mills functioned successfully till the 1970's when the decline set in and they were finally closed in 1996. The huge tracts of land, owned by the mills in both Chennai as well as Banglore (now Bangaluru) were converted to real estate.
India's first labour union, the Madras Labour Union (MLU) was formed at Buckingham and Carnatic Mills by B. P. Wadia and V. Kalyanasundaram Mudaliar on 27 April 1918.

Amit

[Figleaf]

No mention of a family. Wasn't this a family business?

By contrast, a surprising trade union turning up in 1918. Discovery.

Peter