Very kind !

It's really lovely.

Co-operative History

The Rochdale Pioneers

Co-operatives started out as small grassroots organisations in Western Europe, North America and Japan in the middle of the last century, however, the it is the Rochdale Pioneers that is regarded as the prototype of the modern co-operative society and the founders of the Co-operative Movement.

In 1844 a group of 28 artisans working in the cotton mills in the town of Rochdale, in the north of England established the first modern co-operative business, the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society (photo). The weavers faced miserable working conditions and low wages, and they could not afford the high prices of food and household goods. They decided that by pooling their scarce resources and working together they could access basic goods at a lower price. Initially, there were only four items for sale: flour, oatmeal, sugar and butter.

The Pioneers decided it was time shoppers were treated with honesty, openness and respect, that they should be able to share in the profits that their custom contributed to and that they should have a democratic right to have a say in the business. Every customer of the shop became a member and so had a true stake in the business. At first the co-op was open for only two nights a week, but within three months, business had grown so much that it was open five days a week.

The principles that underpinned their way of doing business are still accepted today as the foundations upon which all co-operatives operate. These principles have been revised and updated, but remain essentially the same as those practiced in 1844.

That is a nice bit of history. Thanks.

  


  


  

That would be like the S&H Green Stamps they used to have in the States. Maybe they still do. I have not been to the USA in about 30 years yet now live about 20 miles away.

  


   


Yes, this is a Code 3 Box a friend of mine in Holland made for a set he did in Code 3. I think it is rather nicely done and the theme is appropriate with colors and all. If anyone would like boxes made by this gentleman, PM me as I have canned my other box maker in England. I will not take S--t and Abuse from anyone and he gave me a shovel full for a comment on his Forum site. It was ment as a joke and I guess I should have put a "" after the comment. I thought we were supposed to have fun and exchange comments and ideas on these sites but I guess he sees it different and took it as a personal attach and even commented on the open site about it instead of PM'ing me about it. He then went even further when he did PM me. I have no time for idiots like that and I hope someone from his site reads this and passes it along to him.


You all know me here on TC and I can get a little defensive and am out spoken but I do not offend. At least I hope I have not offended anyone here. I just don't like control freaks who think they are the ruler over their site and can make the rules as they go. There are members here from the site I speak of and from the other site before that that I was asked to leave. I was not banned but do you think I can log in to retrieve my stuff????NO Way. I don't want to make it all over again so would be nice to copy and paste and then delete from those 2 sites. They were both good sites until one guy decides to say, you can't do that on my site. What, make an honest comment on how you feel someone was dealt with??? Megalomania or Dictator comes to mind.


One site had a good box maker who runs it and I have sent him tons of business and never asked for anything in return. You would think after about 50 boxes he would at least send me one???? No WAY, too cheap. I will not be sending him anymore work nor refering customers to him. I am thinking of leaving his site as a member too.



The gent who makes this CO-OP Code 3 box will get my business and referrals, If he wants it but it is a hobby to him.

That would be a English man and his stiff upper lip say what old chap ra.ra.rah

Was it tim nice but dim