Tram & Bus Tokens of Cape Town

Pierre H. Nortje (December 2024)

Introduction

Transport tokens come in many forms, being it for the railways, trams, buses, ferries and even cable cars. In this paper, we will look at tram and bus tokens that were used at the Cape in the olden days.

The standard work on this mode of transport was written in 1976 by P.R. Coates entitled “Track and Trackless – Omnibuses and Trams in the Western Cape.”

From the book, it is clear that for the past 200 years, the following modes of public transport (excluding trains and cars) were available to Capetonians being: -

Animal drawn (mostly horses) carts and wagons.
Trams drawn by horses (both on tracks & trackless)
Electrical trams (both on tracks & trackless)
Buses (also called omnibuses).

The reader of Coates’s book will soon realize how complicated the old Cape Town public transport system was, with so many companies being in operation, some being in opposition and others under the same corporate umbrella - see addendum at the end of this paper.

According to Wikipedia, Cape Town has had two tramway networks forming part of its public transport arrangements. Both networks are now long closed. (Author’s note: These refer to rail [track] trams. Trackless electrical trams operated up to 1964).

“The first of the two networks to be established was a horsecar network, which was opened on 1 May 1863 (see picture below). In around 1896, it was converted to electrical operation. From 21 December 1935, it was gradually replaced by trolleybuses. It was finally closed on 28 January 1939.

The other network, opened in November 1901, was an interurban tramway linking Burnside Road in Cape Town with Camps Bay and Sea Point. It was powered by electricity, and was in operation until 17 February 1930”.

Source: P. R. Coates (1976: 40). Solomon was the promoter of the first Cape Town trams and Bisset the tramways engineer.

However, after the last Cape Town track trams came to a halt in 1939, the word “tram” and “tramways” were still used for public transport companies e.g. Tramways Holdings Limited and City Tramways. The reason this is mentioned is that it makes the dating of the Cape Town transport tokens very difficult and one is still unsure if some of the tokens mentioned in this paper were used for trams or buses or both.

The Tokens

Numismatists like Theron, Hern and Carroll have identified four distinct types of Cape transport tokens being: -

Mills’ Syndicate Tickey Token.
Cape Town Tramway Token Company ½ Penny Token struck in aluminium.
City Tramways Company Token “one fare” token struck in nickel.
City Tramways Co. Ltd. Metropolitan Tramways Co. Ltd. Southern Suburbs of Cape Town Co. Ltd.

Mills’ Syndicate Tickey (3 pence) Token

Source: Author’s own library.

When Dr. G.P. Theron’s book Tokens of South Africa and their History was published in 1978, the Mills’ Syndicate token was not mentioned. However, in January 1991 in a supplement to his original book, Theron writes: -” Mills Syndicate – Tickey. This piece has been ascribed to a bus company that used to operate around Sea Point, Cape Town. So far, I could not get any definite proof of it.”

Hern’s Handbook on Southern African Tokens (2009:165) catalogues the piece but does not mention that it is a transport token. However, Dr. Morgan Carroll (2021:301) identifies it as a tram token.

In his book, Coates (1976:114) writes “A syndicate named the Mills’ Syndicate was formed (in 1899). The scheme they had in mind included subdividing Camps Bay into building lots and the construction of roads and tramways to place the area within a few minutes ride to the city”. The first section of tram line was opened on 9 November 1901 between Sea Point and Camps Bay. According to campsbayvillage.com/history/, the Mills Syndicate operated the trams up to 1930.

Because the syndicate was also involved in other businesses like property development and construction, we do not have conclusive proof that it is indeed a tram fare token but we assume so.

Two types exist, both struck in brass and virtually similar but for their sizes.

Cape Town Tramway Companies ½ Penny Token struck in aluminium

Both Hern & Carroll mention that the token was used until 1920, which means that the token could not have been in use for more than a decade, because the pier depicted on it, was built in 1910 (and was broken down in 1939).

City Tramways Company Token “one fare” token struck in nickel

Although the token seems to be common, very little is known about it. Neither Hern, Carrol nor Theron, venture a date when they were in use. The shape with the holed trefoil reminds one of the many shapes and sizes of American transport (and other) tokens of the mid-1900s. The strangely holed shapes, probably have to do with the containers they were dispensed in, as shown in the following pictures.

City Tramways, during the pre-decimal era, also made use of tickets (also called coupons) as can be seen from the following 12 x 3d booklet. It is interesting to note that these tickets were used on both buses and trackless trams. They probably superseded the use of tokens.

Source: Klaas, Bobshop

City Tramways Co. Ltd. Metropolitan Tramways Co. Ltd. Southern Suburbs of Cape Town Co. Ltd. ½ Penny Token struck in celluloid in different colours.

Both Hern and Carroll erroneously name these tokens as “Cape Town Tramways / City Tramways Co. Ltd / Metropolitan Tramways Co.” while they actually read ”City Tramways Co. Ltd. Metropolitan Tramways Co. Ltd. Southern Suburbs of Cape Town Co. Ltd.”

These celluloid tokens are classified into two series, the first consisting of three types in two colours and the second of various issues in three colours, all showing thirteen different advertisements on the reverse.

Series 1

The three varieties are:-

Pink colour reading “Cape Town Tramways. Cape Point and Hout Bay. Motor Bus Trips”
Yellow colour reading “Cape Town Tramways. Private & Picnic Parties Catered For. Motor Buses”
Yellow colour. Similar to the second type, but the obverse is overstamped on the reverse of the first type.

Source: All the colour pictures of these tokens were sourced from worldofcoins.eu/

Note that the “½d” was applied by the original dies and not overstruck. In the next series, the “½d” is overstruck, meaning that they were later impressed after the tokens were manufactured.

We know that this first series was not used on trams, but on motor busses as indicated on all three varieties. In any case, Hout Bay never had a tram system in operation.

Coates (1976:164) mentions that the first motor bus licences to be issued by the Cape Town Municipality were three to the City Tramways Company in January 1912.

The picture on the right is from his book. Note the low CA 105 number plate.

So, these tokens could only date from 1912 onwards.

Series 2

There are three obverse types and thirteen reverse types.

The obverses are the following:-

City Tramways Co. Ltd. Metropolitan Tramways Co. Ltd. Southern Suburbs of Cape Town Co. Ltd. Yellow colour.

The following is added to the first type: “Available only between Adderley Street and Sea Point”. Red colour.

The following is added to the first type: “2½d Adult available on any advertised 3d distance”. Green colour.

The reverses are the following: -

British Westinghouse Co. Ltd. Jenkins & Co. Cape Town

(Struck in green and red)

British Westinghouse, later Metropolitan Vickers (Metvick), supplied generating plant, mine winding equipment and electric locomotives. They had a subsidiary in South Africa.

Davis “OK” Baking Powder

(Struck in green and red)

Davis OK Baking Powder was a product made by R. B. Davis Co., Hoboken, New Jersey, USA.

Nectar Tea

(Struck in green, red and yellow)

The SA Nectar Tea Co Ltd Warehouse was built in 1915 in Observatory, Cape Town, but the company could have started doing business earlier.

Rayden's All Gold Jams

(Struck in green, red and yellow)

According to their website, “The ‘secret’ to ALL GOLD’s unique recipe was brought to South Africa by Scottish chemist, John Semble (in 1908), for production by H. Jones and Co. This jam manufacturing company in Paarl, Western Cape is a humble beginning for the brand …”

We, however, could not locate a company or brand name called Rayden's All Gold Jams so are not 100% sure if the two companies are related.

Royal Diary Milk

(Struck in green and red)

Naval Historia records a Royal Diary “Milk delivery to HMS Howe in the Cape Town docks, on her way back to England after the end of WW II”.

Royal Dairy Butter

(Struck in green and red)

A Facebook page records” According to the Cape Standard of 1945 in an article titled: "Colour Favouritism". The Royal dairy in Buitenkant Street supplied only 3rd grade butter to non-Europeans while Europeans were supplied with a good grade butter.”

Royal Dairy Cheese

The extraordinary SA Government Gazette of 24 January 1968 records a Royal Dairy Cheese Factory in Epping, Cape Town. The token presumably dates from many years before.

(Struck in green and red)

Sedgwick’s Medical Reserve Brandy

The company J Sedgwick and Co was founded in 1859. In 1886 they bought a distillery on the banks of the Berg River at what was known as Catryntjes Drift, near Wellington in the Boland. The token presumably dates from many years later.

(Struck in green, red and yellow)

Stuttaford’s Cleaning and Dying

The first Stuttaford’s store was open in 1857 in Cape Town city centre. Its last store in South Africa was closed in 2017.

From the South African Jewish Chronicle of 26 July 1946.

(Struck in green and red)

Zenith Petrol Texaco

From the Agricultural Journal of SA, October 1918.

(Struck in green and red)

Tower or Springbok Paraffin

If one looks at the picture below, Tower and Springbok paraffin were also brands of Texaco’s petroleum products.

(Struck in green, red and yellow)

Whitley's – For Value

According to research done by one of our WCNS members, Adrian Jordi, Thomas, Whitley & Co. operated from 17-23 Sir Lowry’s Rd as a leather and clothing store. Gilbert Thomas, one of the partners died in 1940 and his son G. O. Thomas took over. It seems that their operation started around 1907.

(Struck only in green)

Whitley’s - Spend the Penny save the Pound.

(Struck only in yellow)

For the green type, all the advertisements are recorded except for Whitley’s - Spend the Penny Save the Pound. For the red type, all the advertisements are recorded except for the two Whitley’s issues. For the yellow type only 5 of the advertisements are recorded being for Nectar Tea, All Gold Raydon’s Jams, Sedgwick’s Medical Reserve Brandy, Tower or Springbok Paraffin and Whitley’s - Spend the Penny Save the Pound.

Further varieties

In his article ”Tokens of South Africa” by Lt. Col. JL Knobel, published in the SA Numismatic Journal (Number 2) of April 1965, the author records the following varieties: -

Series 1 ”Private & Picnic Parties Catered For”

Normal obverse and reverse
The obverse is overstamped on the reverse of a “Cape Point and Hout Bay“ token with a normal reverse.

Series 2 “Nectar Tea”

Normal dot behind the “d” of ½d.
A specimen in the Pick collection missing the dot.

Series 2 “All Gold Raydon’s Jams”

Two shades of red are known.

Knobel also mentions that three issues have been found with a “1½d” overstamp, being the red Nectar Tea, red Royal Dairy Butter and green Royal Diary Milk issues. He says that he had seen only one specimen not overstamped, it being a yellow Sedgwick’s Medical Reserve Brandy issue. This is thus a unique “1d” token. (See picture below). Although not mentioned, all the yellow varieties are 1d issues showing the ½d overstamp. The green and red issues do not have the 1d.

Source: SA Numismatic Journal (Number 2) of April 1965

When were these tokens introduced?

Firstly, we believe, the different types of the 2nd series were first issued in approximately the same year but were unable to pinpoint a specific year. Initially, we thought that the advertisements depicted on them would give us a clue, but this proved inconclusive. However, in the following, and last section of this paper where we discuss the transport fares, the reader will see that our guesstimate places the first circulation of this series in the 2nd or maybe 3rd decade of the 1900s.

Transport Fares

In terms of the four basic types of Cape tokens that we have discussed, the following denominations are depicted on them:

Mills’ Syndicate Tickey token. (3 pence)
Cape Town Tramway Token Company ½ pence token struck in aluminium.
City Tramways Company Token “one fare” (no denomination) token struck in nickel.
City Tramways Co. Ltd. Metropolitan Tramways Co. Ltd. Southern Suburbs of Cape Town Co. Ltd. Series one all ½ pence and series two mostly ½ pence but some 1½ pence denominations recorded. The unique 1d is definitely due to it being erroneously not overstamped.

For some reason, the Cape Town transport tokens were predominantly issued in ½ pence denominations whilst most other South African cities of the period that ran tram and/or bus services, issued their tokens in higher denominations. Here are the ones that are recorded:

Benoni (aluminium token for 1½ pence)
Boksburg (celluloid token for 1½ pence)
Germiston (celluloid token for 1½ pence)
East London (celluloid tokens for ½ & 1½ pence)
Johannesburg (plastic or celluloid tokens for 1½ pence)
Pretoria (aluminium tokens for ½ & 1½ pence).

In 1976, Johannesburg Tramways by Tony Spit was published. Chapter 9 (Fares & Tickets) gives us a good idea of how their municipal tram system worked: - Celluloid tokens were used from 1911 to 1921. The ordinary minimum fare was reduced to 1½ pence in 1911. It was raised to 2 pence in February 1921 with 2 pence stages thereafter. From 1927 fares on the longer routes were tapered, so that the 3 pence fare covered three stages and in 1935 a 1 pence fare was introduced in the central area and in 1937 overlapping stages were introduced. Fares were only raised in 1954. The central area remained at 1 penny but the second stage now cost 5 pence and the maximum became 9 pence.

The Johannesburg tramways tokens, as we have stated, were issued only from 1911 to 1921 and 7 variations in 5 colours are recorded. During this period Johannesburg had no ½ pence and 1 pence stages. Boksburg, Benoni and Germiston also had only 1½ pence denominations. Pretoria had both a ½ pence and 1½ pence denomination but according to Carroll (2021:380), the former was the children’s fare. This was probably also the reason that East London issued both the ½ pence and 1½ pence denominations.

Why is it then that Cape Town had predominantly ½ pence transport tokens?

According to both Carroll & Hern, the 1st Cape celluloid series was issued up to 1920 which would put their circulation in the same time period that the Johannesburg celluloid pieces were used. As we have stated earlier in this paper, the Cape issues could only have been introduced from 1912 onwards. We speculate that the 2nd celluloid series was issued during the same period or maybe just thereafter. We initially thought that the companies that bought advertisements, in terms of the years they were in operation, would offer a clue as to when the tokens were issued, but at this stage, we are not able to come to a definite conclusion.

The reader will remember that on one of the 3 known reverses of type 2, it states that …

“2½d Adult available on any advertised 3d distance”.

This then means that the passenger only had to pay 5 of these tokens and not 6. So, for even longer routes a minimum of half a dozen of these tokens were used, at least 3 times more tokens than in other municipalities where the minimum fare was 1½ pence. This must have made the issuance of ½ pence denominations a very expensive exercise for the Cape tramways, and something the author simply cannot explain. Even as far back as the 1890s Browns Guide to South Africa (1893: 132) mentions that the minimum fare for trams, trains and omnibuses in Cape Town was 3 pence.

The author would appreciate any input to this paper