Bakelite poker chips..what are they?

Slim7 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 10:48 AM

Justwondering...I see them on ebay all the time. Seem like they are antique chips. Some also say bakelite catalin (sp?). Anyone own any. Are the nice chips, feel like clay... any info would be great. Thanks!

rakdesign · #2 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 10:50 AM

never held them but bakelite is an early production type acyllic..so the are probably far from clay

Colquhoun · #3 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slim7

Justwondering...I see them on ebay all the time. Seem like they are antique chips. Some also say bakelite catalin (sp?). Anyone own any. Are the nice chips, feel like clay... any info would be great. Thanks!

Bakelite was an early type of plastic that was used alot in the 1940's for TONS of different stuff. I guess these chips could be considered dice chips' granddaddy.

Wylecoyo · #4 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 10:59 AM

Bakelite is an early type of plastic/acrylic and it is HIGHLY collectible for some reason (I don't know exactly why, but you can get a hefty price for all things bakelite if you can find a bakelite nut near you).

As far as the chips go, they feel like plastic. Did I mention they are normally pretty valuable for some unknown reason.

jamby · #5 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 10:59 AM

I have some. They're not at all like clay, but rather a hard plastic. Very collectible.

-jamby

Clonexx · #6 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 01:55 PM

I sold an antique set of 200 bakelite poker chips for $300. Why they are worth so much, I have no idea, but someone paid that for em on Ebay.

bmwguy525 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 02:22 PM

Pics anyone?!

Colquhoun · #8 (**permalink**) 06-05-2006, 02:26 PM

Check this site:
http://bakelite_world_2001.tripod.co...uknow/id1.html
A bakelite collector site with lots of photos of bakelite objects. Can you imagine somebody so crazy about collecting something?