Antique shop find (2 Viewers)

[ChipperAttitude]

Hello PCF!

I found these two display collections of individual chips. Some of them are pretty cool. Thought I'd share some pictures in case anyone knew more about some of them. Obviously many of them have labels. Others just a picture on their inlay.

Any input or cool facts you want to share about them is appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[FreeBop59]

Congratulations on getting samples of TR King small crown mold chips (the Riverside, Desert Spa, and Pick Hobson’s chips)

 

[ChipperAttitude]

Congratulations on getting samples of TR King small crown mold chips (the Riverside, Desert Spa, and Pick Hobson’s chips)

What's the draw to those? Hard to find?

 

[FreeBop59]

What's the draw to those? Hard to find?

The casino chips that TR King produced from the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s are sought after and collectible: if you search the forum using the terms “TR King” or “TRK,” you’ll find that they are wanted and discussed.

@Okku made an informative video of the TR King company in this thread:
Thread 'TR King Company History Video'
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/tr-king-company-history-video.66435/

 

[Gus]

The "Tango" and "SS Rex" might be worth ~$50 each, might be worth searching for them on eBay to find current listings or Spinetti's like this:
https://spinettisgaming.com/product...ornia-5-chip-1938?_pos=9&_sid=fe968fe59&_ss=r

IIRC they were gambling ships parked off the coast of Los Angeles so people would take small boats out to them to gamble.

 

[ChipperAttitude]

The "Tango" and "SS Rex" might be worth ~$50 each, might be worth searching for them on eBay to find current listings or Spinetti's like this:
https://spinettisgaming.com/product...ornia-5-chip-1938?_pos=9&_sid=fe968fe59&_ss=r

IIRC they were gambling ships parked off the coast of Los Angeles so people would take small boats out to them to gamble.
View attachment 1540126

You mean as referenced or alluded to in HBO's Perry Mason??!! I did not realize that was historically accurate. Cool idea.

 

[Flip88]

There was a great LA Times article a few years ago about these offshore gambling ships.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-05-26/la-me-col1-battle-santa-monica-bay

 

[ChipperAttitude]

There was a great LA Times article a few years ago about these offshore gambling ships.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-05-26/la-me-col1-battle-santa-monica-bay

Great article, thanks for posting this. I'm so glad I found & picked up these plaques. I love historical stuff like this.

 

[ChipperAttitude]

There was a great LA Times article a few years ago about these offshore gambling ships.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-05-26/la-me-col1-battle-santa-monica-bay

I also watched a PBS SoCal segment on the boats and the guy responsible.

I'm curious if anyone knows more about the chips adorned purely with images. For instance, I believe the elk chips belonged to Elk's Lodges. What about the owl? The fleur-de-lis? The round ring of card suits? Etc...

 

[Gus]

I also watched a PBS SoCal segment on the boats and the guy responsible.

I'm curious if anyone knows more about the chips adorned purely with images. For instance, I believe the elk chips belonged to Elk's Lodges. What about the owl? The fleur-de-lis? The round ring of card suits? Etc...

The image-only ones were for the home market I believe / non-casino usage

The round ring of suits has a name I’m forgetting, but you’ll note that the ring is actually engraved, which was a technique used before the compression molding with clay. Basically it was scraped away from the chip rather than formed as part of the chip

The advent of “non-duplicate chips/checks” meant that distributors wouldn’t sell the same color combos, or in some (maybe all actually) instances only the same hotstamp/monogram to more than one customer. This way you could be assured of no counterfeiting/nobody getting your exact chips also and bringing them to your game

But that’s customized chips, not the standard clover / flour de lis / wheel etc that are common from that era

 

[ChipperAttitude]

The image-only ones were for the home market I believe / non-casino usage

The round ring of suits has a name I’m forgetting, but you’ll note that the ring is actually engraved, which was a technique used before the compression molding with clay. Basically it was scraped away from the chip rather than formed as part of the chip

The advent of “non-duplicate chips/checks” meant that distributors wouldn’t sell the same color combos, or in some (maybe all actually) instances only the same hotstamp/monogram to more than one customer. This way you could be assured of no counterfeiting/nobody getting your exact chips also and bringing them to your game

But that’s customized chips, not the standard clover / flour de lis / wheel etc that are common from that era

I appreciate all this info. If I may ask, is there a resource to look this stuff up beyond the chip guide?

 

[Gus]

I appreciate all this info. If I may ask, is there a resource to look this stuff up beyond the chip guide?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326683266714

This book (Seymour's Antique Gambling Chips) was the most helpful guide if I'm remembering correctly, there's a few similar ones but this is most comprehensive for the pre-modern era of chips. Link above is to a signed copy on eBay for like $30.

Flip through the photos in the listing and you'll see some of the first pages... great images/illustrations, plus introductions to the different types, eras, etc.

 

[ChipperAttitude]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326683266714

This book (Seymour's Antique Gambling Chips) was the most helpful guide if I'm remembering correctly, there's a few similar ones but this is most comprehensive for the pre-modern era of chips. Link above is to a signed copy on eBay for like $30.

Flip through the photos in the listing and you'll see some of the first pages... great images/illustrations, plus introductions to the different types, eras, etc.

View attachment 1546308

Thank you very much.

I just flipped through the pages... I'm seeing some matches for chips possibly from 1890 or 1900? Particularly the The plain horseshoe, and fleur-de-lis ("Prince of wales paste on"). I sure if it's a real match. May have to pick up this guide. Thank you!

 

[Johnblue]

For what it’s worth, the “Commerce Casino” chips actually still live chips, you can go play poker with those in Los Angeles. (The metal coin centered one I don’t really see anymore, but it would play.

Cool collection.