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Messages - Chuqii

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326
Playing Card Plethora / Re: Bee Quality Playing Cards (Black)
« on: April 27, 2015, 10:15:05 AM »
I typed in the UPC code in Amazon, and it pulled up the same type deck but in red.  So that part checks out.

http://www.amazon.com/MMS-Quality-Bee-USPCC-Trick/dp/B00HSLLO36/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430143957&sr=8-1&keywords=073854020906

327
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: Latest additions to my KEM collection
« on: April 23, 2015, 11:40:08 AM »
Finally tracked down the name of this deck - Stratosphere

Of course, on the same page where I found the name for this deck, I found a reference to two other KEM decks that I didn't even know existed.  Which is frustrating, but exciting.

328
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: Latest additions to my KEM collection
« on: April 10, 2015, 01:17:10 PM »
Company was started in New York in 1934 or 1935 by the inventor of these plastic playing cards, Siegfried Klausner, and some other backers, including Ely Culbertson, a master self-promoter who who helped create the bridge craze of the 1930s and 1940s. Cards were sold in high-end department stores and jewelry stores at first.  Here are some of their 1937 ads from Esquire magazine.

329
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: Latest additions to my KEM collection
« on: April 08, 2015, 12:43:13 PM »
Beats me why they stopped making them.  I agree with you that those stand up boxes are just the right size.  I like the metal clamshells more overall, but they aren't the convenient size like the stand up boxes for carrying them around.

330
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Latest additions to my KEM collection
« on: April 07, 2015, 10:29:22 AM »
It's been a good quarter for my KEM collection.  4 new 1st gen Neillite cases, two new clamshells, one new box and some awesome cards (Cameo (C342), Seascape (C87), Kent (C342), Pinochle (C140) and the one I still haven't found a name for, Cosmic Gas Earth (C140).   The business card is actually one of the cards from the Pinochle deck.

331
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Ad - Playing cards and poker chips from 1923 catalog
« on: April 06, 2015, 05:21:46 PM »
Here's an page from an old catalog selling playing cards.  The page I found the image claimed it is from the 1923 catalog.

332
Aces and Eights - the Vintage/Antique STISO Board / Playing Card Salesman's kit from 1939-1941 on eBay
« on: March 16, 2015, 01:45:46 PM »
Just saw this on eBay, and it looks like a neat item.  Playing card salesman's kit with samples.  Not what I collect, but I thought someone her might be interested. 

eBay link:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/291404330882?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

333
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: KEM Dance cards - 1041
« on: February 17, 2015, 01:34:13 PM »
And here they are.  I threw in a Duchess back, even though mine is from 1948, since it is listed in the ad.

In order, Clipper Ship, Duchess, Torches? (streamline), Fawn, Gamecock, Earth radio waves?, and a promo card

Dance, Carnation, Club, Cameo and Regency shown in in first post.

334
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: KEM Dance cards - 1041
« on: February 16, 2015, 10:28:17 AM »
I have decks with ten different backs from 1936-1943 - Fawn, Earth radio waves?, Dance, Torches?, Regency, Club, Carnations, Clipper Ship, Cameo and Gamecock.   Still looking for La Paloma, Seascape, Adventure, the blue Earth radio waves?, and a few others.

335
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / KEM Dance cards - 1041
« on: February 13, 2015, 05:12:47 PM »
Scooped these up on Ebay.  Excellent condition.  The case was a bonus.  Just need the Pinochle back for the period set.

336
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: 1930-ish Kem decks with unique bakelite box
« on: February 02, 2015, 01:57:00 PM »
As for when KEM first started producing cards, the earliest would have been late 1934.  The first print ad I've found was from May 1935, but the first mention was April 1935.  Sources attached.

Guess who has one of the wood-and-gold paper drawer boxes like the one in the ad?  :)


337
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: 1930-ish Kem decks with unique bakelite box
« on: February 02, 2015, 01:19:23 PM »
I think Neillite was very similar Bakelite, but maybe a bit different formula.  J.R. Neill, inventor or Neillite, joined Watertown Manufacturing Company in Watertown, Conn.  In the Watertown Book of Plastics from the early 1940s they make a distinction between the two.  Also, the cases feel different.  The Bakelite cases feel more substantial and heavier than the Neillite.

This image is one of the earliest ads for KEM cards that I have found, and it references the Neillite cases.

In an interesting aside, in the Watertown company bowling league at the time, all the teams were named for different types of plastic.  ** Found the bowling league info.  It is from 1951 **

338
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: 1930-ish Kem decks with unique bakelite box
« on: January 30, 2015, 04:05:53 PM »
The name on the cards also helps in dating.  These are labeled "KEM Playing Cards, Inc." which was the name of the company when it first started.  Company was taken over by KEM Card Sales Corp. around 1937 and then KEM Plastic Playing Cards, Inc. in 1939.

Also, I'd bet that this is a Neillite case and has "KEM Playing Cards, Inc." on the bottom.  I have a similarly labeled deck with with a slightly different Neillite box.  All the Neillte cases I have seen dovetail into the base.  I also have a KEM Card Sales Corp. case with the dovetailing on the lid but it is not marked as Neillite.

Do you have any issues wit the red ink on your cards?  I have two decks of the KEM Playing Cards, Inc. Fawn cards, and for both it looks like the red ink soaked through the card.  In the 1940 Facts about KEM Cards booklet they mention improved ink.  I wonder if this red ink was an issue on a lot of the original decks from 1935-1937?

339
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: Old playing cards photos
« on: December 18, 2014, 04:32:57 PM »
Cynthia Kuber Herbst, heiress and wife of Theodore Herbst, with KEM Cameo cards.  Mr. Herbst bought control of KEM cards around 1937.  Claimed in one book to be the face on the KEM ace of spades.




340
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: Magnin size Kem playing cards
« on: December 05, 2014, 12:04:14 PM »
Looks like it was good speculation on the I. Magnin & Co. connection.  Here's an I. Magnin & Co. ad showing the Magnin-sized cards.

341
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: Help naming an old KEM deck
« on: December 05, 2014, 11:55:53 AM »
You are correct on the dating of the deck to Jan 1940.  I was able to find an old newspaper ad from December 1939 showing the deck, but no luck on the name.  And I don't know the names of the other two decks shown in the ad, either.  But I'd love to have them if anyone has one for sale.


342
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Help naming an old KEM deck
« on: December 03, 2014, 11:47:24 AM »
Picked this deck up on Ebay recently, but I can't track down the name of this type of back.  Ace date code is C140.  Anyone know it?

Update - deck name is Stratosphere

343
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: Magnin size Kem playing cards
« on: October 22, 2014, 11:42:33 AM »
You got me.  Haven't taken any photos of my own yet, so I used the Ebay one.    Thanks for the Worthpoint link.  Some interesting speculation there.

344
Introduce Yourself / Re: Howdy
« on: October 20, 2014, 12:54:37 PM »
Thanks for the warm welcome. 

345
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Magnin size Kem playing cards
« on: October 20, 2014, 12:50:53 PM »
Anybody know the story behind the KEM magnin size playing cards?  I just picked these up.  They are 3.5 x 2 inches, so narrower than a bridge deck.  My deck is dated October, 1941.  Just wondering if these had any special use or purpose.

346
Introduce Yourself / Howdy
« on: October 18, 2014, 01:03:08 AM »
Chuqii from Texas here.  I found the Discourse while trying to track down information on KEM decks and cases which I've just recently begun collecting.  I've always loved cards, and I like the old KEMs because even a 70 year old deck is still sturdy enough for my monthly poker night.  Oh, and I like old inlaid poker chips as well. 



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