Victorian era chest of drawers produced by the Cooperative Wholesale Society at Pelaw on Tyne (near Newcastle).
The Cooperative was organized as a means for consumers to save money by not only arranging bulk purchases but by controlling the means of production. It’s an interesting twist on economics called Co-operative Federalism.
Among its distinguishing hallmarks, this form of organization annoys the ruling classes and middle level merchants (like socialism) except the working class is not necessarily included in the benefits of the system: “Organizing of producers is, as Beatrice Webb says, organizing the servant side of our lives, while organizing as consumers is organizing as masters of our lives.” More here.
In some ways Co-operative Federalism is a form of “righteous” economics for the non-working classes without the spoiled-fish taint of socialism or other forms of worker organization. This is one of the reasons co-operatives are a form of economic organization throughout much of rural America where anything even remotely socialist has been driven out of town and told to never return. Farm co-ops are a great example with the Land-O-Lakes brand as a modern and highly successful version. Many credit unions are organized on similar principles.
As the May 1934 article in Cooperation says, “The dollar we spend is more powerful than the dollar we get.” We invite you to take a look, organize as a consumer, and buy this piece.
It’s in good condition, 42 inches wide, 17 inches deep and 51 inches tall.
