First come, first served: gas for tokens and vouchers – that's how we paid before bank transfers came along!
Gas, initially produced from coal, lit up the streets of Kraków, Warsaw and Poznań, gradually entering homes – first as fuel for cookers, then for heating, and even for appliances such as irons and refrigerators. However, the more widespread gas became, the greater the challenges in its sale and distribution.
A guarantee in times of uncertainty
Today's gas bills are often the subject of discussion at family dinner tables. However, in the past, price fluctuations were even more severe – technology was expensive and the economy was plagued by inflation. For many households, this meant one thing: finding a way to protect themselves against sudden cost increases.
Gas vouchers proved to be the solution. In practice, they were a form of prepayment – those who purchased a voucher from the gas company guaranteed themselves a fixed fuel price for a specified period of time. This provided a sense of security and stability in uncertain economic times. Unsurprisingly, there were many interested buyers, and voucher sales were limited.
Gas tokens
However, tokens were a real revolution in everyday gas use. With the spread of automatic meters, a system emerged that we could compare to modern prepaid cards. To start the gas flow, a token had to be inserted into a special device – simple, precise and available on demand.
Interestingly, each token was unique. Municipal gasworks ordered their own designs, differing in weight, shape and material. This prevented them from circulating between cities and effectively protected the system from speculation. By inserting a token into the gas meter, the user not only had access to energy, but also a reminder of the city they lived in.
Although today gas vouchers and tokens are only museum exhibits and collectors' curiosities, they remain a testament to innovations that responded to the real needs of people. Where today's consumers use mobile apps and pay their bills online, metal discs and paper receipts were once used.
We invite you to take a look!
