THC chips still produced? (2 Viewers)

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I am curious if the THC molds are still in use or if the RHC are the only hat and cane in production. Every current casino chip I look at is either a house mold or RHC.
 
Lots of THC still in use at LV Strip casinos.
And many more elsewhere.

I think that there is a reason for this. I don't have access to current Paulson Casino pricing or anything, but I'd be willing to bet that there is a significant difference in pricing between THC & RHC. Let's say RHC's are 25% < THC. If you are a new Casino/Cardroom ordering 500,000 chips that could actually add up to real money. Let's face it. The guy placing that order is most likely not a chip fanatic so what happens is he orders the chips that save them 100k or whatever.

My guess as to why the difference in price: THC has been around for a long time & probably uses a slower, less efficient manufacturing process. Paulson had many years to figure that kind of thing out before they started making RHC's. I suppose that there could be other factors involved too, but that is the one that makes the most sense.
 
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looking at taking a trip to lake tahoe and monte blue $1 looks like a blue THC
 
And many more elsewhere.

I think that there is a reason for this. I don't have access to current Paulson Casino pricing or anything, but I'd be willing to bet that there is a significant difference in pricing between THC & RHC. Let's say RHC's are 25% < THC. If you are a new Casino/Cardroom ordering 500,000 chips that could actually add up to real money. Let's face it. The guy placing that order is most likely not a chip fanatic so what happens is he orders the chips that save them 100k or whatever.

My guess as to why the difference in price: THC has been around for a long time & probably uses a slower, less efficient manufacturing process. Paulson had many years to figure that kind of thing out before they started making RHC's. I suppose that there could be other factors involved too, but that is the one that makes the most sense.

This isn’t first hand information, but some of the long timers here who are more knowledgeable than me have said that Paulson doesn’t actually distinguish between the two molds for customers. I remember this because it always sticks out in my mind as odd.

Assuming this is true, I think customers (casinos) appreciate the larger branding area. Also why the oversized inlays are increasingly popular. Perhaps they are more common on the strip because the managers or whoever makes these decisions have been in he business longer and want to keep the classic look for classic Vegas on the strip. But otherwise I am not convinced RHCs would be cheaper to manufacture even though as chippers we prescribe more “value” to them. It seems to me like the composition is the same and it’s just a “poor” mold choice.
 
looking at taking a trip to lake tahoe and monte blue $1 looks like a blue THC
Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe before? If not, you are in for a treat. Everything about it is spectacular. Great in the winter for skiing/snowboarding with half a dozen excellent areas within reasonable driving distance of either end of the lake. Beautiful in the summer for all sorts of summertime activities. Fishing, hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting, camping etc. What could be better than all that? All that + gambling options at both the North and South end of the lake near the Cal/NV borders.

Add to that a really beautiful chip that you identified to try and get. No Poker and the current COVID situation are goint to make it a bit tough, but I have confidence in you. Go Pull out a couple racks from that place and you have such an excellent murder candidate for a custom THC set or just use it as is for a mixed set. Either way, great idea!
 
This isn’t first hand information, but some of the long timers here who are more knowledgeable than me have said that Paulson doesn’t actually distinguish between the two molds for customers......
I would love to know for sure if this is true.

Assuming this is true, I think customers (casinos) appreciate the larger branding area. Also why the oversized inlays are increasingly popular.
I totally believe this to be true. I remember Dennis from TRK telling me one time that he liked the large Crown mold better than the scrown, but customers always told him they were ordering the scrown because that mold allowed for a larger inlay & thus more branding area.

Perhaps they are more common on the strip because the managers or whoever makes these decisions have been in he business longer and want to keep the classic look for classic Vegas on the strip.
yea, and to keep consistent with what they already have.

But otherwise I am not convinced RHCs would be cheaper to manufacture even though as chippers we prescribe more “value” to them. It seems to me like the composition is the same
Sure, composition is the same, what if newer equipment allowed them to press many more at the same time & thus reducing the time & cost of manufacture?

and it’s just a “poor” mold choice.
Poor choice in our eye, but probably the correct choice for the reasons they put emphasis on
 
Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe before? If not, you are in for a treat. Everything about it is spectacular. Great in the winter for skiing/snowboarding with half a dozen excellent areas within reasonable driving distance of either end of the lake. Beautiful in the summer for all sorts of summertime activities. Fishing, hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting, camping etc. What could be better than all that? All that + gambling options at both the North and South end of the lake near the Cal/NV borders.

Add to that a really beautiful chip that you identified to try and get. No Poker and the current COVID situation are goint to make it a bit tough, but I have confidence in you. Go Pull out a couple racks from that place and you have such an excellent murder candidate for a custom THC set or just use it as is for a mixed set. Either way, great idea!
Wife and I are talking about a trip this summer when hopefully vaccines are widely distributed and things are more back to normal
 
I would love to know for sure if this is true.


I totally believe this to be true. I remember Dennis from TRK telling me one time that he liked the large Crown mold better than the scrown, but customers always told him they were ordering the scrown because that mold allowed for a larger inlay & thus more branding area.

yea, and to keep consistent with what they already have.


Sure, composition is the same, what if newer equipment allowed them to press many more at the same time & thus reducing the time & cost of manufacture?


Poor choice in our eye, but probably the correct choice for the reasons they put emphasis on

Argh, there are so many threads on this topic that I can’t seem to find those references. I believe it was BGinGA who was talking about this. I don’t want to tag him because he would rightfully tell me to search for it. I will continue to see if I can find those comments or hopefully someone can come along and correct or support me.
 
I would love to know for sure if this is true.


I totally believe this to be true. I remember Dennis from TRK telling me one time that he liked the large Crown mold better than the scrown, but customers always told him they were ordering the scrown because that mold allowed for a larger inlay & thus more branding area.

yea, and to keep consistent with what they already have.


Sure, composition is the same, what if newer equipment allowed them to press many more at the same time & thus reducing the time & cost of manufacture?


Poor choice in our eye, but probably the correct choice for the reasons they put emphasis on

Found one reference by BGinGA here although now that I reread it it appears not so clear.

RHC and THC chips are 39mm, IHC chips are 43mm. FHC (Fat Hat & Cane) chips are 48mm. The unmarked crest & seal mold is 50mm.
Fwiw, GPI refers to both RHC and THC chips as "hat and cane", and to IHC chips as "43mm oversize". Also no differentiation between LCV and SCV molds, often using the two molds together on the same chips. Only chip geeks care about the minute differences in molds, and have pet names for them. :)
Post in thread 'GPI forum interest?'
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/gpi-forum-interest.39343/post-730901
 
Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe before? If not, you are in for a treat. Everything about it is spectacular. Great in the winter for skiing/snowboarding with half a dozen excellent areas within reasonable driving distance of either end of the lake. Beautiful in the summer for all sorts of summertime activities. Fishing, hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting, camping etc. What could be better than all that? All that + gambling options at both the North and South end of the lake near the Cal/NV borders.

Add to that a really beautiful chip that you identified to try and get. No Poker and the current COVID situation are goint to make it a bit tough, but I have confidence in you. Go Pull out a couple racks from that place and you have such an excellent murder candidate for a custom THC set or just use it as is for a mixed set. Either way, great idea!
I have actually been pricing up my next boarding holiday and was looking at Harrahs lake tahoe. Wanting to take the girlfriend as shes not been before and its over 15 years since i went as a child. I have also noticed those blue chips and will certainly be swiping a few racks if we end up there. Its just soo hard not to go to european resorts these days as they continue to grow vs USA resorts sadly :unsure:
 
Based on what I've heard from people who have done GPI NAGBs, what @Eloe2000 says is correct. They do not price the molds differently and they do not actually differentiate when talking about them.

To answer the OP, THC mold is still being used, but for some reason (either GPI salesmen or casino officials ordering chips) prefer the larger inlay size from RHC. There's speculation about the RHC being worn quicker compared to THC, so that is why GPI has this as a default option to make casino add-ons more frequent. That's pure speculation though.
 
Planned obsolescence. RHC definitely do wear/chip faster than THC. Even though GPI themselves might not differentiate between them when it comes to pricing, the life cycle of RHC chips are definitely shorter. And, the larger inlay size is offered as a selling feature since it allows for more prominent branding if the casino would rather not use a house mold.
 

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