dave in iowa

[dave]

Found a token today, it says Iowa-Illinois Gas and Eletric company on one side with Full Fare in the middle and on the other side it say's Tri-City Lines with full fair in the middle it's about 3/4 in diamiter to an inch maybe . any idea;s on the age of it >?

[Idahotokens]

Dave--Atwood's Transportation token book says this about the Tri-City Railway: "... was organized in January 1914 to acquire street railway operations in the state of Illinois. The name was changed to Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric in 1935." And it says about the latter company: "Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric sold out to National City Lines in September, 1950. The last trolley car operated on October 4, 1936, both here (Rock Island) and in Moline. It was the same system." So, the implication is that the token you have was issued ca. 1935. There are three varieties catalogued (brass, steel, and white metal) each catalogued at 15¢. That value is from 1970, but implies that the tokens are pretty common. Best, John in ID