A token with the enigmatic inscription THIRD DEGREE KNICKER PIE EATER'S CLUB on two lines (with a male head facing left) was a puzzle to members of the Token and Medal Society (TAMS) when it wasdescribed in "Maverick" lists in the 1960's and 70's. Mavericks are tokens without an issuer or place inscribed on them.

Two generations earlier this pocket piece would have been familiar to boys who bought their clothes at Tim's Official Store, as proud members of his Pie Eater's Club.

See, Tim is the fellow whose portrait is on the token - a simple figure, always with a half-smile and no last name. Tim first appeared in the middle of the 1920's as a free lance marketing icon. Acreation of Baltimore native Herman "Kay" Kamen, Tim was a brand for hire used in boys clothing stores across the country. In 1933, Kamen went on to become Walt Disney's merchandising genius.

Boys were offered all kinds of promotions to get them and their parents to come back to the store and buy more clothes. Members of Tim's Club would regularly receive comic books, prizes and offersto events, depending on how much they bought in the store.

Redbacks (a play on the "Greenbacks" term for US currency) were given as a bonus with each purchase. They could be redeemed at a future visit, usually for one cent each. This effective advertisingin the form of "money" reminded customers to return to the store. Since they were saved as having some value, Redbacks are available ephemera. All are fairly scarce, but the 5 denominations are thehardest to find.

Bibliography and further reading:

Calcoin News, Vol. 21, No. 4, January 9, 1967
TAMS Journal "Mavericks" April 1971 page 79
TAMS Journal> Vol. 15, No. 3, January 6, 1975

Lawrence [Kansas] Journal-World Sep 10, 1926
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19260910&id=-AZGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5ucMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4227

Coin World, March 6, 2015. Superman fan club scrip note from the 1940s sells for $28 in Internet auction
http://www.coinworld.com/news/paper-money/2015/03/Superman-Tim-scrip-note-from-the-1940s-sells-for-28-in-auction.html#
https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDetail/87805/SUPERMAN-TIM-MINI-PENNANT-LETTER
http://www.fanboy.com/2009/04/the-superman-tim-club-card-membership-has-its-rewards.html
http://scoop.previewsworld.com/Home/4/1/73/1016?articleID=45795