Sweden Amusement Tokens

This section is under construction. As a first step, we will add pages for some of the most encountered tokens by issuer. You are very welcome to add more pages or contribute to existing pages. If you wish, you can make requests for the addition of issuers on the discussion page.

Introduction

The social and political role of amusement parks

This section owes much to Dansen och makten by Mattias Svenson, January 2013.

Swedish amusement parks are the sedentary version of mobile fun fairs that preceded them, supplemented with facilities for other forms of public entertainment. They are generally a mix of one or more dance floors, restaurants and a fun fair. They may also offer services, such as a theatre or function rooms. From the beginning, they (and restaurants offering an opportunity to dance) were a political issue. In 1928, member of the Riksdag Per Albin Hansson said in a speech that restrictive measures on music and dancing in public were inappropriate because of "a general feeling that society benefits from a certain degree of freedom." His stance was popular among the general public. However, the clergy and large segments of politicians, doctors, teachers and academics (the "bourgeoisie") offered stiff resistance. In 1932, Social Democrat Åkerman asked in the same venue "Can nothing be done to stop the dance?"

The bourgeoisie saw public entertainment as immoral and wanted to act against "entertaining film, public dance, especially in conjunction with the serving of intoxicants and the criminally stressed and pornographic literature that reaches young people already in school age and in secret ways.” John Björk, of the People's party added that "in the countryside, dance floors are often moral hotbeds". The church demanded legal measures, notably in a letter to the government from bishop Yngve Brilioth, proposing a government inquiry into what interventions were necessary to halt a continuing moral decline due to public entertainment.

Due to the outbreak of the second world war, not much happened on the political front, but the bourgeoisie expanded its influence. Preacher John Hedlund put it like this in 1946: "A wave of unbridled sexuality has swept the world. The most primitive forms of entertainment have seen the light of day. One such is modern dance. It is a manifestation of spiritual poverty and moral rot.” Probably, the rise of jazz ("negroid so-called music") and sexually charged singers like Elvis Presley contributed to this outburst.

In spite of these opinions, young people kept flocking to the dance halls. Modern music became widely accepted. The bourgeoisie therefore changed tack from sex to alcohol. "What does the presence of one or another slightly intoxicated person mean in this respect in comparison with the dance music, whose character includes, among other things, the physical and mental attitude of a lulling and raging drunkard?" wrote, for example, elementary school teacher Erik Walles in his book Jazz attacks. This fit in with the increase in the drinking age to 20 and a high tax on alcoholic drinks.

An increasing number of academic studies showed that neither the sex argument nor the alcohol argument were true. As one stated: "It was the boredom in the municipal society that created dissatisfaction. The commercial entertainment made the summer evenings sparkle a little extra." Once, during the great economic crisis of the 1930s, the amusement parks were the last forms of popular public entertainment that were still open when many restaurants and theatres closed. Now, it is generally recognised that the parks fulfilled an important social function in a country with long winters. Ironically, once the political and religious resistance subsided, the amusement parks went into decline, under pressure from home entertainment. The number of remaining parks is in a steady decline. Some parks were modernised, but a number of those still operating need rejuvenation.

Amusement park tokens

The tokens are still available in quantity, making it likely that they were not used as entry tickets, but for amusement and vending machines. They were probably not sold individually and may not have been redeemable, so leftover tokens would explain their availability today. Also, tokens had to be changed from time to time in view of inflation and to clean up contingent liabilities. Such operations would make forgotten tokens worthless.

There are a large number of municipal park tokens. These parks are tilted more towards (popular) culture, ranging from theatre to cinema and dance. Since the tokens are not well catalogued, all listings should be considered as provisional, including generic tokens meant for municipal parks.

Generic token makers would also compete to make specific tokens listed below. The generic tokens are fit for use outside the amusement sector. However, since they seem to have been used mostly for amusement machines, they are listed here.

Amusement token issuers

This symbol in the list below means that the introduction or the table has not yet been made.

Pages with all pictures missing are marked with this symbol. Please help by adding pictures.

• Swedish Amusement terms Glossary

Specific issues

Amusement park, fairground and arcade tokens used in one location

• Svenska Tivoliägare Föreningen (STF - Swedish Tivoli Owners Association)

• Arboga Björkmans Björkmans Nöjesfält
• Arlöv Gunnar Månsson
• Arlöv Carl Swärdh
• Boden Viklunds Tivoli
• Borgholm Néas Nöjesfält
• Borlänge Miltons Tivoli
• Borlänge Wilhem Moberg Mobergs Tivoli
• Emmaboda Olympia Festspel
• Enköping/upplands-Bälinge Hallbergs Nöjesfält
• Eskilstuna Bergström Gunnar Bergströms Tivoli
• Eskilstuna Ingvars Nöjestivoli
• Eslöv Jacobis Tivoli includes Josef Jacobi
• Falkenberg Hilding Johnssons Tivoli
• Falsterbo Falsterbohus
• Falun Nöjesfältservice Falun
• Falun Ströms Tivoli includes Ragnar Ström
• Gävle Birgers Tivoli
• Gävle Furuviksparken
• Gävle Lindströms Tivoli
• Gävle Nöjesfältet Gefle
• Gävle Olsson, Axel W.
• Gävle (Hagastöm) Rydéns Nöjesfält
• Helsingborg Kronvalls tivoli
• Gothenborg Edvards
• Gothenborg Expo
• Gothenborg Jarestens
• Gothenborg Liseberg
• Gothenborg Schultz Nöjefält
• Gothenborg Skandinaviska Spel
• Gothenborg Turistroulett
• Gustavsfors Svärds Tivoli
• Halmstad Axels Nöjesfält
• Halmstad Karusell
• Halmstad LU.Halmstad
• Halmstad Nöjeshallen Halmstad
• Halmstad Carl Petterssons tivoli
• Hässleholm Hassans Tivoli
• Hässleholm Nilssons Tivoli
• Hässleholm Hässleholms Tivoli
• Höganäs Sebåms Tivoli
• Höllviken Nöjesfältet Caravellen
• Junsele Mon Junsele
• Jönköping Hallbergs Tivoli
• Kalix Altenburgs Casino
• Kalmar Nöjesservice
• Korsnäs Sahlins Tivoli
• Kulltorp High Chaparral
• Kävlinge Beck's Tivoli
• Kävlinge Cederholms Tivoli
• Laholm (Altona) Jacobis Tivoli (Laholm)
• Malmö Arnholdt-Olsson
• Malmö Anderssons Tivoli includes Göran Andersson
• Malmö Cirkus Tältstaden
• Malmö Ebens
• Malmö Månssons Tivoli includesAnders Månsson
• Malmö Nilssons Tivoli
• Malmö Bröderna Idof och Arnholdt Olsson
• Malmö Olssons tivoli includes Carl Olsson
• Malmö Nöjestjänst Malmö
• Malmö Valencia
• Norrköping Kolmårdens djurpark
• Norrköping Lekoma
• Norrköping Vesterbergs Nöjesfält
• Norrtälje Extraliv Arkadhall
• Sala Hartwicks Tivoli
• Sala Karlberg.E.
• Sala Skogh
• Skeppmora Vinterbackens Festplats
• Skövde Sandbergs tivoli Includes Oskar Sandberg
• Stockholm (Täby) Aktivitetscenter Täby
• Stockholm Antonis tivoli
• Stockholm (Haninge), Tärnsjö Berglunds tivoli
• Stockholm Birger Eriksson
• Stockholm Dannemans Nöjestivoli
• Stockholm Dolway
• Stockholm Gröna Lund
• Stockholm Heinbrandts Nöjefält
• Stockholm Jensens Tivoli
• Stockholm L.E.R.
• Stockholm (Bromma) Lillsjönäs Festplats
• Stockholm (Värmdö) Myrbacka Tivoli
• Stockholm Nöjesfältet Stockholm
• Stockholm Wallonen Restaurang
• Stockholm (Sundbyberg) Widholms Tivoli
• Stockholm Wivex Tivoli
• Stockholm Åkerlund, E
• Sundsvall Tivoli Sundsvall
• Surte Hällsfjäll
• Söderbärke Söderbärkeparken
• Uppsala Karusell
• Uddevalla Karlssons Tivoli
• Valbo near Gävle Jules Tivoli includes Julle Frederiksson
• Varberg (Träslov) Holmbergs Nöjesfält
• Visby Murgrönan
• Västerås Erik Hellström Svenska Nöjesarenan and Hellströms Tivoli
• Västerås Sven-Erik Sundberg AB
• Växjö Kå-Ges Tivoli
• Ärlov E.V.Larsson
• Ödåkra Gustavborgs Park
• Öland Ölands djur och nöjespark
• Örebro Express-Turnen
• Ship MS Athena Includes Rödalund and Silverland onboard arcades
• Unknown Alhbins Tivoli
• Unknown Allspel
• Unknown Belas Basartjänst
• Unknown O.Berglunds Automathallar
• Unknown Björks Tivoli
• Unknown Centrum
• Unknown Claytons Nöjeshallar
• Unknown Färdigs Nöjesfält
• Unknown Gege
• Unknown Görans Tivoli
• Unknown Göta Nöjesfält
• Unknown Hults Tivoli
• Unknown JEÅ
• Unknown Anders Johanssons Tivoli
• Unknown G.Johanssons Automathall
• Unknown Oskar Johanssons Tivoli
• Unknown Jonsson Tivoli
• Unknown Nepeta
• Unknown Olles Tivoli
• Unknown C.Perssons Nöjefält
• Unknown REÅN
• Unknown Rundquist Tivoli
• Unknown Sissis Tivoli
• Unknown Stiol
• Unknown Svenska Nöjestivolit

Slot Machine and anonymous Tokens

• 3B AB
• 4 Fun AB
• 8
• A
• abc
• AB Interplay
• A.B. Värmlandsspel
• Adonbolagen
• Affärs Automater
• A N
• Arcadia
• Aristocrat
• Automatmaskiner Göteborg
• Automattjänst
• Automattjänst Bjuv
• B
• Bally
• Bell Fruit
• Bjuvia Fritid
• Björex
• C
• Ekholm & Andersson (E & A)
• Endast För Förstöelse (flower)
• EVH
• F
• FE
• G
• Gloria´s Sportsbar & Restaurant
• H Värdemarke
• H X Värdemarke
• Hansa Myntautomater
• Jabeco Automat & Lotteri
• Jensigame
• J&M
• Kapitalkonsult AB
• E.Karlsson
• KB
• Leo´s Lekland
• LM
• Majestic
• MB
• Merkator Service
• Miami
• National
• N.A.S.
• Nilbolagen
• O´Learys
• Roulette Arkaden AB RAAB
• RP
• Samson Novelty Company Limited
• SB International
• Sega
• Serv-o-Matic AB
• S
• Si
• SL
• SM (oak tree)
• Spelmarker
• Spelpollett (Ant)
• Spelpollett (Floral Scroll)
• Spelpollett (generic)
• Star (carousel)
• Sverige Vinst Polett
• Toreco AB
• Vinstpollett (25)
• Vinstpollett (Floral Scroll)
• Vinstpollett (Large Star)
• Vinstpollett (Stars)
• Vinstpolett (Waves)
• Generic Värdemarke (numbered)
• Generic (numbered)
• Generic (other)

Casino, Bingo and other amusement tokens

• B&C Casino
• Bonik
• Cherry
• E.L.Casino
• Knutsson Casino

• Bingo Salongen Enköping
• Multi-Bingo
• Knalle Bingo
• SBGS Bingo
• Skellefteå Barnens Dag Bingo
• Västra Frölunda IF

Folkets Park and Municipal park tokens

• Folk Park Wikipedia (SW)[1] (EN)[2]
• Generic Folkets park tokens

• Anderlöv Anderlöv Folkets Park
• Arboga Arboga Folkets Park
• Alvesta Alvesta Folkets Park
• Bergsäter Tvååker Bergsäter Tvååker Folkets park
• Billesholm Billesholm Folkets Park
• Blomstermåla Blomstermåla Folkparken
• Bolnäs Folkets park Bollnäs
• Borlänge Folkets Park Borlänge
• Borås Borås FolkPark
• Bredaryd Bredaryd Folkets Park
• Bångbro Bångbro Folkets Park
• Deje Deje Folkets Park
• Eksjö Eksjö Folkets Park
• Ellös Folkets Park Ellös
• Enköping Enköping Folkets Park
• Falun Falun Folkets Park
• Finspong Finspong Folkets Park
• Gamleby Gamleby Folkpark
• Glimåkra Glimåkra Folkets Park
• Gävle Gävle FolkParken
• Hagfors Hagfors Folkets Park
• Heby Heby Folkets Park
• Hofors Hofors Folkets Park
• Hunnebo Hunnebo Folk Park
• Huskvarna Huskvarna Folkets Park
• Hälsingborg Hälsingborg Folkets Park
• Härnösand Härnosands Folkets Park
• Hästveda Hästveda Folkets Park
• Höganäs Höganäs Folkets Park
• Jakobsberg Jakobsberg Folkpark
• Jönköping Jönköping Folkets Park
• Kalmar Kalmar Folkets Park
• Karlshamn Karlshamn Folkets Park
• Karlskrona Vämöparken
• Karlskoga Karlskoga Folkets Park
• Karlstad Mariebergsskogen
• Katrineholm Katrineholm Folkets Park
• Kiruna Kiruna Folkets Park
• Kisa Kisa Folkets Park
• Kristianstad Folkets Park Summerlust
• Kristinehamn Kristinehamn Folkets Park
• Katrineholm Katrineholm Folkets Park
• Kumla Kumla Folkets Park
• Kågeröd Kågerödslund
• Köping Köping Folkets Park
• Lesjöfors Lesjöfors Folkets Park
• Ljusdal Ljusdals Folkpark
• Lund Lunds Folkets park
• Långhyttan Långhyttan Folkets Park
• Lönsboda Lönsboda Folkets Park
• Malmö Malmö Folkets Park
• Mjölby Mjölby Folkets Park
• Motala Motala Folkets Park
• Norrköping Norrköping Folkets Park
• Norrtälje Norrtälje Folkets Park
• Nyköping Nyköping Folkets Park
• Nässjö Nässjö Folkets Park
• Oxelösunds Oxelösunds Folkets Park
• Rättvik Rättviks FolkPark
• Sandviken Sandviken Folkets Park
• Skellefteå Skellefteå Folkets Park
• Skogshall Skogshall Folkpark
• Skromberga Skromberga Folkets park
• Skurup Skurups Folkets park
• Skövde Skövde Folkets Park
• Stockholm Skansen
• Sunnemo Sunnemo Folkets Park
• Säffle Säffle Folkets Park
• Säterdalen Säterdalen
• Tomelilla Tomelilla Folkets Park
• Trelleborg Trelleborg Folkets Park
• Uddevalla Uddevalla Folkets Park
• Valdemarsvik Valdemarsvik Folkets Park
• Valla Valla Folkets Park
• Varborg Nöjesparken
• Vetlanda Vetlanda Folkets Park
• Vislanda Vislanda FolkPark
• Vänersborg Vänersborg Folkets Park
• Västervik Folkets Park Västervik
• Västerås Västerås FolkParken
• Växjö Växjö Folkets Park
• Ystad Surbrunn Folkets Park
• Åhus Åhus Folkets Park
• Åmål Åmål, Furuhall Folkets Park
• Älmhult Älmhult Bokehills Sommarpaviljong (also spelled as Elmhult)
• Örebro Folk parken Örebro / Brunnsparken
• Örnsköldsvik Örnsköldsvik Folkets Park

Dance tokens

• Generic Dance

• Barcelona - Kristinehamn
• Boden, Barnens Dag
• Folkets Park Borlänge
• Bredaryd Folkets Park
• Bångbro Folkets Park
• Dansa Strandbadet
• Dansbanan Elba
• Dansut - Stockholm
• Deje Folkets Park
• Eksjö Folkets Park
• Eksäters Dansbana - Osby
• Folkets Hus Nyhammar
• Furuviksparken
• Gamleby Folkpark
• Glimåkra Folkets Park
• Godtemplar Parken Byn - Ekshärad
• Gröna Lund - Stockholm
• Hagfors Folkets Park
• Hofors Folkets Park
• Horndal Folkets Hus
• Hunnebo Folkets Park
• Huskvarna Folkets Park
• Hästveda Folkets Park
• Idrottsföreningen Viking / Idrottsklubben Viking Hagfors
• Kisa Folkets Park
• Kumla Folkets Park
• Köping Folkets Park
• Lesjöfors Folkets Park
• Liseberg - Gothenburg
• Lönsboda Folkets Park
• Motala Folkets Park
• Malmö Allamänna Idrottsförening (MAI)
• Norrköping Folkets Park
• Norrtälje Folkets Park
• Nyköping Folkets Park
• Nässjö Folkets Park
• Oxelösunds Folkets Park
• Ramnäs Idrottsförening
• Riddarhytte bruks Dansbana
• S.K.Elvan Sparrsätra - Enköping
• S.V.Furet - Halmstad
• Skellefteå Folkets Park
• Skansen - Stockholm
• Stugan Dans Jönköping
• Summerlust Folkets Park
• Säterdalen
• Vislanda FolkPark
• Vivesta Strand - Oxelösund
• Vämöparken - Karlskrona
• Vänershov - Karlstad
• Västervik Folkets Park
• Västerås FolkParken
• Växjö Folkets Park
• Årsunda Idrottsförening

Generic issues

See also the list of Swedish Transport Token Manufacturers and Stamps

• Edward Sönnergren
• Lagerströms Fabriks AB
• Sigma
• Sporrong
• Generic Dance
• Generic Folkets park

References

Bernt Thelin & Jan Hildemar, Svenska polletter från nöjesfält och tivoli. Svenska Pollettföreningens Småskrifter Nr 5, 2021

Bo Gustavsson, Göteborgpolletter: Polletter för krogar, nöjen och sjöfart från början fram till i dag. (sv) [Tokens for restaurants, entertainment and shipping from the beginning to the present] 2018

Bernt Thelin and Magnus Wijk, Skånepolletter: Skånska polletter och deras utgivare från äldre tider fram till nutid (sv) [Skåne tokens and their issuers from older times to the present day] 2016

Monica Golabiewski Lannby & Ian Wiséhn, Stockholms polletter (sv) [Tokens from Stockholm] 2010

Erik Stolberg Opslagsværk over Danske Spille-Og Automatmærker (Dan), Reference work on Danish Gaming and Slot Machines 1986