Arago: Commercial Tokens

Owney probably received this token from a representative of Harrison’s manufacturing business. A former postal employee, Harrison partnered with William P. Towne, forming the Charles Harrison & Company manufacturers of brass and plumbers’ supplies in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. In 1890, the company ran into financial difficulties. Harrison managed to continue producing products, including the “mail distributing rack” that is advertised on this token. He patented the rack on April 8, 1879, patent #214,036. Harrison’s “system of mail-car fixtures and furniture of portable drop-tables and bag racks” had the welfare of the Railway Mail Service clerks in mind. It was designed to “more fully utilize the space, admit light from the windows, secure better ventilation, economize time, facilitate work, lessen the number and individual labor of clerks.” Harrison made the mail racks his life’s work. In the 1900 census, at age 77, Harrison listed his occupation as “Manufactures Postal Racks.”