VERNONS 1/2D CANTEEN token

[bhx7]

Hi All

I got this one through today. I have a side collection of canteen tokens that I have started to collate, initially by accident. I bought this as I hadn't seen one and the price wasn't bad.

Would I be right in thinking this would be from the canteen of the Vernons Pools business, or do I have it wrong. I thought it would be an easy look-up, but not so.

The token has a Dia: 22.8 mm Thk: 2.2mm Wt: 1-35g and made of yellow plastic

If anyone has any extra information I would appreciate it. Thank you

[Offa]

It could be from Vern one football pools in Liverpool

[Figleaf]

On account of name recognition (the admiral) one tends to read Vernon's, but is says Vernons. Maybe a spelling error, maybe not but better hope it isn't so you don't get drowned in hits.

Anyway, the hits on the Liverpool pools I get are post-decimalisation and I don't know why a football pool outfit needs a canteen. Some hits suggest Vernons is a military term, but they are all limited access, so it may well be a false lead. Someone not afraid of Facecrook may want to follow this lead. Seems the right type of building for the token.

Peter

[africancoins]

The place in that lead is..

Vernon-Carus Mill, Factory Lane, Penwortham, Preston.

According the the Wikipedia page for the company Sportech, at the start of the "Football Pools" section:-

>>>>>>>>>>>
Littlewoods' football pools were founded in 1923 by John Moores. The Vernons pools were established in 1925, and Zetters in 1933.
>>>>>>>>>>>

The Vernons Pools Ltd headquarters was located at/near Aintree, Liverpool. It was quite a large building, evidently a lot of labour intensive work. It can be seen here (aerial view in 1936):-

https://britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw050526

Elsewhere I saw an image of the front of it, including the sign written facade. This very much seems to be a place that would have had a busy canteen and long enough ago for a (pre-decimal) halfpenny to be worthwhile denomination in a canteen.

Thanks Mr Paul Baker

[bhx7]

Thanks Guys

Peter was initial very confused at your comments, as Vernons Pools was a massive venture which was still going when I was young. I remember the older guys in the street having there coupons ready to be picked up, with the fees ready to pay. The Pools women round ours was Irene, never knew her second name. I do remember her being robbed and her husband then started walking around with her. I musty have only been 8 or 9.

Paul, yes I noted that building. They also had a very large building in Bootle employing over 900. I learned this after doing a bit more research and found lots of info on a notice board about old places and businesses in and around Liverpool.

The collapse of the Football Pools businesses all around, coincided with the start up of the National Lottery. Within 4 years the Pools had ceased to be.

I am now fairly happy that this is a token used in one of the Verons pools works canteens.

Brian

[Offa]

On account of name recognition (the admiral) one tends to read Vernon's, but is says Vernons. Maybe a spelling error, maybe not but better hope it isn't so you don't get drowned in hits.

Anyway, the hits on the Liverpool pools I get are post-decimalisation and I don't know why a football pool outfit needs a canteen. Some hits suggest Vernons is a military term, but they are all limited access, so it may well be a false lead. Someone not afraid of Facecrook may want to follow this lead. Seems the right type of building for the token.

Peter

Vernons had quite a large operation in Liverpool up until the 1980's. They employed around two thousand people and also had a mail order catalogue business under the same name.. I would think that they had a large canteen to cater for a large workforce. Hence they would have had decimal tokens and pre decimal tokens

[Offa]

As a side note littlewoods ran an identical business to Vernons in Liverpool