Co-op Memorabilia

This little packet of pins was given away to advertise Co-op Tea.
	The tea caddy spoon (left) has the Co-op emblem of a Wheatsheaf. Britain is known for its tea drinking - when in doubt have a cup of tea! In the early years of the 20th century many kitchen stoves would have the tea pot resting 'at the ready' for the man coming in from the garden or a neighbour dropping by for a chat. Below is a badge from a piece of equipment in the shoe factory.	Below the Wheatsheaf badge from a Co-op Fire Brigade cap.

The coin (left) was issued to employees, to spend in Co-op shops, as part of their wages. Each employee had a small tin passed to them, with their wages inside, each week; each had their own key to a numbered box. The boxes when filled, were placed into a 'pigeon hole' to await collection at the end of the working week. The brush (right) is just 5 inches long (127mm), and was for brushing clothes to remove dust or stray fibres. The lamp below was issued during WWII to the CWS fire brigade - clearly marked on the back with the arrow that denotes 'Government Issue'. A shield, that protected the front, when raised reveals only a small aperture for the light. It was found in a cupboard when the Co-op shoe factory closed and the Fire Department was disbanded. Co-op Milk Token samples - courtesy Rushden Museum Co-op Household Soap of the 1970s These Milk Tokens are from the 1970's. You would buy a quantity each week and then put out a number of tokens each day, depending on requirements. This meant milk wasn't wasted. When the price increased, the Co-op would change the colour of the tokens and if you had a few left you could top up the cost with coins.

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