What would you do with these? (2 Viewers)

[Innoruuk]

This week I picked up an old case for ~$100 with a little over 300 filthy, hot stamped solid Paulsons. There are some other cheapo chips visible in this picture that I am not including in this count.

I should say right away - I have not deluded myself into thinking that I found a huge money-maker. Rather, I thought this would be great for experimenting with cleaning, oiling, etc, as I am still very green at this.

After removing the junk chips from this case, I was left with these quantities:

White $5: 47
Red $10: 96
Blue $25: 100
Yellow $50: 72

They are mostly gross, and I have ordered an ultrasonic cleaner, TSP, and mineral oil (not just for these) based on my reading here, so I know what steps 1 & 2 will be.

For all you seasoned, battle-hardened poker chip veterans, I want to know what you would do with these.

Are they salvageable for anything? Is there a way to date them?

Here are a couple more shots that show their very rough condition and hot stamps:

Side question -

Below: look at the chip on the right. There are several of these washed-out looking chips. They feel dry. Are the "red" chips that look like this so pale and discolored because they need to be oiled, and would this imply that a cleaning was attempted?

Thanks for reading!

 

[Mushmanchuman]

Yeah the side question does look like the chip in the left was cleaned and the cleaner took some color out of the chip. Maybe the other chip as well. They are for sure heavily placed. This happened to a few old Paulsons that I put thru the ultra sonic with TSP for cleaner. Looked like the chip on the left to a t.

As far as the chips go they are 100% salvageable. You can clean them all with some warm water and dawn. Soak for a 10 mins then hit them with a magic eraser. You’ll be surprised how good the whites and yellers will look after cleaning them.

Then dry them off and wipe them down with mineral oil. They’ll be good to go.

And you could have them milled. Drill out the center of the chip and make a custom label.

Nice score dude
Cool little chip set. Too bad it wasn’t a little more playable but still a solid score.

 

[BKisback]

Nice find. After cleaning, they could be a serviceable micro stakes cash set because of the lack of a currency symbol. You would need to add $1 chips of some kind. It's not ideal to have 5c, 10c, 25c, and 50c chips in the same game, but I could see this becoming a usable .05/.10 game for someone.

 

[CardRally]

Those other chips are Langworthy/RT Plastics chips. Nothing valuable, but not total junk, some people seem to like them.
The faded chips definitely look over cleaned. Probably hot water. Reds are particularly vulnerable to color loss. The person may have done one batch and given up. Oil may restore some color.
The yellows look really good. As @Mushmanchuman said, a little dawn and a magic eraser should be all you need to get those back in shape.
It’s fun to have a project. Good luck!

 

[CardRally]

For a date, I would guess 70s but maybe someone else can correct me. Looks like this version here:

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/pcf/antiquegamblingchips-mold-designs/

 

[Eriks]

Nice score! I’d mill em and get some custom labels. Could turn it into a nice little T25 tourney set. A bit short on the 1ks but it would work for 8 players with 12/12/5/6 10k starting stacks

Red - T25
Blue - T100
White - T500
Yellow - T1k

 

[LotsOfChips]

Drill out the center of the chip and make a custom label.

Bad advice (or at least badly worded advice). Drilling out the center of the chips is like making a cancellation hole. Not needed, and permanently damaging the chip .

Using a drill press to remove the hot stamp and a few thousandths of an inch of the inlay area with a flat bottom wide mill is a different story.

 

[Mushmanchuman]

Yeah I think mentioned milling but yeah instead of using the word drill it shoulda been mill. I just used drill as a universal word for the entire milling process.

 

[Innoruuk]

Thank you all for the feedback and information! I will post an update on cleaning/oiling next week. Then it’s time to start building a case to convince the wife that I need to get them milled

 

[Mushmanchuman]

For a date, I would guess 70s but maybe someone else can correct me. Looks like this version here:
View attachment 1678359
View attachment 1678361
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/pcf/antiquegamblingchips-mold-designs/

@Innoruuk

Thumbnail this link. You’ll memorize all the molds before long. Now you’ll know exactly what molds to look for.

 

[CardRally]

Looking forward to your update. Always nice to see chips get a second life.

 

[Innoruuk]

Just getting into the swing of things, but here's a before and after. Such a huge improvement!

Also, given that these chips were particularly dry/thirsty, would it be worthwhile to go back and oil them a 2nd time after letting them sit?

 

[CardRally]

 

[Innoruuk]

I need some pro tips here:

Left: uncleaned (obviously)
Middle: cleaned w/ TSP in ultrasonic & toothbrushed after
Right: Unused-ish that was in the set

I'm happy that they at least don't look like they came from a shipwreck now. The picture doesn't really represent the dinginess of the middle chip well enough.

I haven't oiled yet, but I'm wondering if you all have any insights in how to bring the color of the middle chip closer to the one on the right. I've seen suggestions of vinegar, dawn, etc, but wanted to ask here before trying anything other than the TSP.

 

[CardRally]

The whites you can soak in Hydrogen Peroxide solution. The bottle I have is 3%.
Not sure what the results would be on colors. You could search the forum. Definitely test on one before doing a batch of colored chips.