ID Please - TR King Small Crowns w/ Lattice ?? (1 Viewer)

[CrazyEddie]

What is this chip?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-38mm-Bakelite-or-Catalin-Poker-Chip-Lattice-Design/303756455254

Judging by the last picture showing the damage on the edge, it doesn't even look like it's plastic - it looks more like painted-over wood. If it were a clay (plastic) chip the color would be solid and go all the way through it. But it's got the Small Crowns mold pattern debossed on it, so it has to be compression-molded clay (plastic)... right?

This just seems like a really weird artifact. Has anyone seen this before?

 

[mtl mile end]

AFAIK, no one but TRK ever used the SCrown mold. They created it and used it until closing up shop. CPC just recently got it. The pictures show it to be colour consistent as far as I can see. The yellow/brown/black coloured material is just Finger Jelly, now referred to as Hooker Juice.

It's the crazy pattern in the center that's a mystery. Perhaps the world's most amazing Hotstamp?

@PAZ ?

 

[mtl mile end]

This stuff is gunge that is stuck to the chip:

This part is interesting:

 

[mtl mile end]

Another random thought

The one side with the streaking wear makes it look like a slot token.

 

[gmunny]

It looks like a small crown that was so worn down that may the inlays came off? I don't think i've seen a underneath an inlay on a small crown. I always assumed it was solid, but that pattern seems to be to help adhesive? Just a pure guess. I have many very worn hot stamp small and large crowns. Not many inlays though.

Also looks like that chip was buried or something. I wonder if it was found in a lake or a dig?

 

[allforcharity]

Some sort of heated surface or brand must have been applied to the face. The chip material looks like it has melted and pushed away by the brand, and then allowed to cool in place.

 

[CrazyEddie]

It's hard to know for sure, but it also doesn't look like there ever was an inlay. An inlay that was removed would have left behind a recess of some sort, and other than the lattice pattern (which I agree with @allforcharity , that looks like it was melted in) the chip surface appears smooth.

 

[BGinGA]

Looks like a really bizarre hot stamp test chip.

 

[mtl mile end]

It's hard to know for sure, but it also doesn't look like there ever was an inlay. An inlay that was removed would have left behind a recess of some sort, and other than the lattice pattern (which I agree with @allforcharity , that looks like it was melted in) the chip surface appears smooth.

As gmunny suggests - it's gone. Cross hatching, inlay, recess, and probably a little more, all worn off. The yellow gunk could be glue residue. About 23 of these would fit in a barrel that securely holds 20 new SCrowns.

My favourite explanation to date.

 

[PAZ]

Looks like a really bizarre hot stamp test chip.

That’s what I always thought and didn’t think too much of it. I have one and it’s the same color and perfect shape. Perhaps the hot stamp test was done by an individual on a barrel they had.

 

[CrazyEddie]

Score! Thanks, @PAZ . What a remarkable chip!

 

[CrazyEddie]

It's interesting that this one is so worn, while the one @PAZ has is pristine. If it was someone playing around with a hotstamp machine, I wonder how the chip got into circulation such that it would end up being worn down and covered in finger gunk. That usually comes from heavy casino use... but what would a casino be doing with a chip like this?

I bid on it, and would appreciate it if the PCF community didn't bid against me here (i.e. I'm calling "dibs"). When I get it in my mitts I'll clean it up and take a closer look, and report back if I learn anything interesting.

 

[inca911]

I bid on it, and would appreciate it if the PCF community didn't bid against me here (i.e. I'm calling "dibs").

 

[mtl mile end]

It's interesting that this one is so worn, while the one @PAZ has is pristine. If it was someone playing around with a hotstamp machine, I wonder how the chip got into circulation such that it would end up being worn down and covered in finger gunk. That usually comes from heavy casino use... but what would a casino be doing with a chip like this?

I bid on it, and would appreciate it if the PCF community didn't bid against me here (i.e. I'm calling "dibs"). When I get it in my mitts I'll clean it up and take a closer look, and report back if I learn anything interesting.

At $9.99, your only worry is a shill bid.

 

[gmunny]

That’s what I always thought and didn’t think too much of it. I have one and it’s the same color and perfect shape. Perhaps the hot stamp test was done by an individual on a barrel they had.

View attachment 569611
View attachment 569612

Duh now that you post it, I have seen that chip. Not sure if in person or another picture. Looks like a waffle. Great Chip Paul!

 

[gmunny]

It's interesting that this one is so worn, while the one @PAZ has is pristine. If it was someone playing around with a hotstamp machine, I wonder how the chip got into circulation such that it would end up being worn down and covered in finger gunk. That usually comes from heavy casino use... but what would a casino be doing with a chip like this?

I bid on it, and would appreciate it if the PCF community didn't bid against me here (i.e. I'm calling "dibs"). When I get it in my mitts I'll clean it up and take a closer look, and report back if I learn anything interesting.

Yeah same here.. how did it get so worn? I won't be bidding

 

[CrazyEddie]

At $9.99, your only worry is a shill bid.

What can I say - I'm a sucker for weird stuff.

 

[mtl mile end]

I'm loving the hotstamp explanation, but it is ignoring the peninsula of clay that differentiates these two chips:

 

[CrazyEddie]

Hotstamp graffiti.

 

[Racer96]

It’s a cancellation hotstamp. I have several large crown and small crown chips that were cancelled with that same design.

 

[GianThaMan]

It’s a cancellation hotstamp. I have several large crown and small crown chips that were cancelled with that same design.

Pics please!

 

[Racer96]

Pics please!

You’re going to have to wait,,,,,,,, a while.

I’m currently in lockdown in France while the chips are at my house in Canada.

 

[mtl mile end]

You’re going to have to wait,,,,,,,, a while.

I’m currently in lockdown in France while the chips are at my house in Canada.

Do you recall if yours had a dangling projection?

 

[Racer96]

Do you recall if yours had a dangling projection?

I can’t say for sure. I think I have a barrel or two of large and small crowns that have that cancellation stamp on it in varying conditions. Some others had a spiral hotstamp on them.

 

[mtl mile end]

Coolest hotstamp EVAR!!

Another LCrown grail set to add to my fantasies.

 

[Jeff in Iowa]

The Portland Card Company used a very similar design to cancel their Square in Circle chips. I think it is essentially another version of the Paulson "starburst" cancelation design. Paulson used it to cancel previously hot stamped chips, but as we all know, also blank chips, to prevent counterfeiting. I assume T.R. King had the same fear of their blank chips escaping into the wild.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

I'm loving the hotstamp explanation, but it is ignoring the peninsula of clay that differentiates these two chips:

One is male and the other female???

 

[BGinGA]

I'm loving the hotstamp explanation, but it is ignoring the peninsula of clay that differentiates these two chips:

Maybe @PAZ can post pics of both sides of his chip.

 

[PAZ]

Certainly my friend.

 

[gmunny]

Hey Paz, does your chip look like its a flat chip with a hot stamp on top? or does it look like the stamp is kind of indented in the clay and the foil is sitting in the indent? not sure if i am explaining it correctly. The heavily used one looks like that the chip is indented where the hot stamp goes. I think that extra dong in the worn chip could just be something when stamping, because it sure looks like the same pattern. Not sure how hot stamping works, but if the chip is soft enough, can the stamp from the machine indent the clay enough where they are trying to make the hot stamp flush with the surface?