Mine 420 Old Mini clay chips (1 Viewer)

[fish72s]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121633377172?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2648

These are interesting chips. If anyone has more info on when or how these (or the normal sized ones) were made, let me know.
They are lightweight but they are dead flat and stack well. They have kind of a cool little 'ting' sound when you riffle them.
I'd like to get them out the door but I can't bring myself to just give them away.

 

[Mental Nomad]

You sure they're pressed clay, and not some other material, like a dense bakelite? The shine makes me think they're not clay.

Bakelite was an early plastic. You can find old phones and such made of it. It's got collector's value now as a "retro" material, depending on the product.

I'm going to watch the sale - if it doesn't get pricey, I may pick them up as a novelty, and probably to use as counters/tokens in some non-poker games.

Also, let me know if you'd consider peeling off a couple chips as a sample set - I wouldn't mind having a couple in my collection to show people what "other" used to look like...

 

[BGinGA]

Look like bakelite to me. Many older backgammon sets used bakelite checkers which look very similar. Old bakelite checkers are in high demand, as set builders design expensive custom boards around them.

 

[fish72s]

You sure they're pressed clay, and not some other material, like a dense bakelite? The shine makes me think they're not clay.

Bakelite was an early plastic. You can find old phones and such made of it. It's got collector's value now as a "retro" material, depending on the product.

I'm going to watch the sale - if it doesn't get pricey, I may pick them up as a novelty, and probably to use as counters/tokens in some non-poker games.

Also, let me know if you'd consider peeling off a couple chips as a sample set - I wouldn't mind having a couple in my collection to show people what "other" used to look like...

I have some bakelite chips and these are definitely different. I'm not possitive that they are compressed clay but they do look like it when you break them in half.
I doubt they will get pricey. I'd be happy if they sold for the starting bid.
I can take off a few samples if you are interested. Or I might consider selling with a money back option if you really don't like them.

 

[fish72s]

If these were bakelite I think they'd be worth more. They actually fetch decent prices.
tomorrow I will take some side-by-side pics and also with one broken in half.

 

[fish72s]

Not a very good pic but you can kind of see the material of the chip inside is not plastic.
The bakellite chips won't break and they have a distinctive swirl pattern.

 

[BGinGA]

Does it burn? If so, what color is the flame?

 

[Psypher1000]

Does it burn? If so, what color is the flame?

I'm not sure if that's a science question, a Monty Python reference, or both.

I'm so tired right now....

 

[Mental Nomad]

Legitimate science question.

 

[Mental Nomad]

The bakellite chips won't break and they have a distinctive swirl pattern.

I think it's catalin chips that are swirly. Also, if you hold them up to bright light, they're very slightly translucent.

Bakelite is opaque and uniform. However, it doesn't break quite like that - was that chip snapped in half, or cut?

 

[fish72s]

Does it burn? If so, what color is the flame?

I doubt it but I will give it a try.

I think it's catalin chips that are swirly. Also, if you hold them up to bright light, they're very slightly translucent.

Bakelite is opaque and uniform. However, it doesn't break quite like that - was that chip snapped in half, or cut?

I snapped it in half, which wasn't too difficult. I'm not sure I could cut, much let break, the bakellite chips.

From what I remember reading, catalin and bakellite are pretty similar. Both are plastics from before plastic was cheap and easy to make.
The chips I bought, and many others on eBay that looked just like them, were advertised as bakellite. I'll go wiki-pedia it later.

But my 'minis' are definitely not plastic and sure seem to be a kind of compressed clay-like material. Its possible they are actual 'clay' and that this is why chips today are called clay?
BTW, these aren't rare. Search vintage or antique poker chips and you will find a bunch. Alot of them are embossed with an image of a plane, golfer, monkey.... etc.
I have a few sample of these too. They are kind of cool

 

[Mental Nomad]

I'm just having a hard time with that shiny surface being clay. Chips weren't usually fired, and without firing, clay doesn't often look like that. Maybe the photos are throwing more shine than reality?

 

[BGinGA]

Fired or glazed. Compressed, you're not gonna get a shiny surface with clay.

 

[fish72s]

What else could they be?
I'll see if I can't get a better picture.

 

[fish72s]

Re-listed at (slightly) lowered price