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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,070 |
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
All I can make out is what you see in the pictures - KIRBY. There is, perhaps, some designage to the rest of the front and back but that might also be wear and tear which you can see is extreme. I can't even be sure if this thing is handmade or it is the wear that makes it seem that way. It is a thick coin (or medal, or token, or...), about 2mm, if that helps. Does anybody have a clue?   Edited by jdsstrat
03/05/2025 10:17 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1484 Posts |
First thing that comes to mind is a Kirby Canning Company (Maryland) token, but I'm not seeing any matches to existing tokens.
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Moderator
 United States
34393 Posts |
@jds, in a quick search of tokencatalog with the keyword KIRBY, I don't see anything that resembles this piece. What is the diameter and weight?
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Valued Member
 United States
258 Posts |
diameter 25mm, weight between 13 and 14 grams (I don't yet have a proper scale, sorry)
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
FYI: the lettering is in relief
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
I see Kirby and I think of this. I had a very brief stint doing home demonstrations of their product when I was in school.  |
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
Thanks Jbuck! I just sent off an email to the company to see if anyone is aware of tokens having been used at one time. FYI: I see that they are still known for their in-home demonstrations so if you have a little extra time and are still willing... :)
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Quote:
Thanks Jbuck! My pleasure.  Quote:
I just sent off an email to the company to see if anyone is aware of tokens having been used at one time. Excellent!  Quote:
FYI: I see that they are still known for their in-home demonstrations so if you have a little extra time and are still willing... :) Oh my, no. It was one of the most miserable experiences of my life. In the training you are lead to believe you will be going into lovely, well kept homes. But I went to homes that had not seen a vacuum cleaner in years, perhaps decades. And the smell! No, never again!  |
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
P.S. I heard back from the Kirby company and their representative said he asked around and no one had ever heard of tokens being used by salemen back in the day. Doesn't mean they didn't, I know, so we left off he'd keep his ears open and get back to me if...
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Valued Member
United States
258 Posts |
I have an update that I hope might stir up some momentum here. There is a faint capital C on the flip side of the KIRBY. I captured it about as good as I could, it being so sensitive to the light. See below.  Anybody? Anything? |
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Quote:
I heard back from the Kirby company and their representative said he asked around and no one had ever heard of tokens being used by salemen back in the day. Doesn't mean they didn't, I know, so we left off he'd keep his ears open and get back to me if... Thank you for the update. Quote:
There is a faint capital C on the flip side of the KIRBY. I captured it about as good as I could, it being so sensitive to the light. See below.   |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,070 |
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Posted 03/05/2025 8:46 pm
