L.bower

[Simon68]

Hi BHF Members,

Simon here, your friendly token & coin dealer from Suffolk, who has today attended the Midlands Coin Fair.

I found a 2d token that says around it Made By T.Pope. On the reverse in a single line is L.Bower.

Now I know that T.Pope was based in Birmingham, but I know nothing about L.Bower, so I don't know if that person was in Birmingham or not. If it is a pub token I'd expect the name of the pub on it as well, so in this case I think it might be a trade/market token instead.

If you want photos, let me know. Any ideas?

Regards Simon

 

[mikejee]

Had a quick look at Kellys, not every year, but every few years, and 1879-84 Leonard Bower was a beer retailer at 14 Duddeston Mill road. Before that he was at the New Navigation Inn , Bridge St, Smethwick. could not see any other L Bower . as you rightly say, one would expect a publican to have the name of his pub on it. Of course, it was not necessarily in Birmingham

 

[pjmburns]

Mike - not sure this is the right person but Leonard Bower is listed in 1855 White's as a Rivet Maker. It just says Islington Works. In the Post Office Directory of the same year it lists him as "manufacturer of patent screws in iron, brass or copper, screw bolts, copper boat nails, rivets and every description of railway fastenings and fittings (Islington Works)." The address is Oozells Street

 

[mikejee]

Janice.
Yes that is a possibility. I did not go back before 1872. In the 1861 census he is 50, living in Lichfield road with wife Anne. He is not the same one as the publican, as the publican in 1881 census is 34

 

[pjmburns]

Janice.
Yes that is a possibility. I did not go back before 1872. In the 1861 census he is 50, living in Lichfield road with wife Anne. He is not the same one as the publican, as the publican in 1881 census is 34

I just did a search on Ancestry and it came up with the one you found - at various pubs but then I spotted this other one.