The May-June issue of Token and Medal Society Journal has an article on World War II naval chits from Ceylon, one of which is rubberstamped on the back: JAMES RUTLADER / KANSAS CITY, MO. The author, Gary Ascher, is asking for more information. I recognized the name Rutlader, because he issued brass tokens and because he was a coin dealer. This is what I have pieced together.

James Rutlader (born 1921 in Cleburne, TX and still living in 2007) in 1938 lived with his father, Harry Rutlader (1889-1961), and his brother, Joseph H. Rutlader (1913-1987, born in Poland), at 1418 Wabash Avenue, Kansas City. James and his father ran Good Luck Furniture Company (used furniture) at 1120-1124 E. 15th Street. Brother Joseph ran the Ace Mattress Company (also used furniture) a few blocks down the street at 820 E. 15th.

In the 1940 census they were all still living on Wabash. In 1951 Good Luck Furniture was still at the same address, though the street had been renamed Truman Avenue, and Ace Furniture Company (new name) had moved to 1013 Truman. Good Hope Furniture was still operating at the same address as late as 1962.

Meanwhile, James Rutlader had written a book, Allied Military Currency from World War II, which was published in Kansas City in 1968. The book was available from the author at that time at 1122 Truman Road -- which is the Good Luck Furniture Company address. By 1984, he was in the coin business, operating as Rutlader Coins & Stamps (or Rutlader Company) at 8255 Wornall Road (according to the phone directory).

Good Luck Furniture does not appear to have been in business at that time, but Ace Furniture was open at 6257 State Avenue. About 1990, Rutlader donated 125 acres of land, located southwest of Kansas City, just over the state line in Kansas, to the state of Kansas and this became the Rutlader Wildlife Area. Nearby, 7 miles south of Louisburg, Kansas, he developed a 25 acre complex known as Rutlader Outpost, where he built an old western town, building by building.

I want to know if any readers remember James Rutlader as a coin dealer. Was he really in the coin business, or did his used furniture business turn into an antique store? When and for what purpose did he have the brass tokens (5 and 50 cent and $1) made? Were they used for the furniture store or his coin business or did he have some other sideline business?

I also found in my collection an undated one ounce .999 silver round issued by Rutlader, with an obverse design imitating a Morgan dollar. When was this made? I suspect his parents were Jewish refugees from Poland; is this correct? Did James Rutlader serve in the military during World War II? Why is his name stamped on the back of the Ceylon naval scrip? I will be happy to pass on further information to Gary Ascher.