Tour the ASM Facility?

zbme · #1 (**permalink**) 03-12-2006, 08:46 PM

Does anyone know if ASM will allow a tour of their facility? I would love to see chips being made. Maybe we could get a group tour together for this summer?

Although, I am not sure if Icould get my wife to go on a trip based on poker chip manufacturering. lol

I believe ASM is located in Portland Maine.

dajebriza · #2 (**permalink**) 03-12-2006, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zbme

Does anyone know if ASM will allow a tour of their facility? I would love to see chips being made. Maybe we could get a group tour together for this summer?

Although, I am not sure if Icould get my wife to go on a trip based on poker chip manufacturering. lol

I believe ASM is located in Portland Maine.

Do they give free samples, like when you tour the Hershey's chocolate factory or the Jelly Belly plant?

zbme · #3 (**permalink**) 03-12-2006, 09:05 PM

Anheuser-Busch here in St. Louis also gives free beer samples at the end of their Brewery tour. Some how I don't think ASM will do it.

hachkc · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-2006, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dajebriza

Do they give free samples, like when you tour the Hershey's chocolate factory or the Jelly Belly plant?

Actually, they do and you don't even need to go to the factory; just call them up.

hachkc · #5 (**permalink**) 03-12-2006, 10:34 PM

Also, the chips go through 2 main processes which are handled first in Canada I believe and then the US (might be reversed though); kind of a hard tour to take.

noelsarchs · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2006, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hachkc

Also, the chips go through 2 main processes which are handled first in Canada I believe and then the US (might be reversed though); kind of a hard tour to take.

I've heard that the initial chips are started in Portland, then sent to Canada, then back to Portland....evidently they start out as long clay strips or something and the equipment is very very old...would love to know more.

zbme · #7 (**permalink**) 03-13-2006, 08:06 AM

This link is pretty cool But still not a tour

http://www.antiquegamblingchips.com/mfgchip.htm

MadeInDetroit · #8 (**permalink**) 03-13-2006, 08:39 AM

I've got family near Portland, Maine. This sounds worth checking into, I'll make some calls.

insane_irish · #9 (**permalink**) 03-13-2006, 11:04 AM

my guess is that they would definitely give you a tour. Matthew stopped in there a couple of months ago and ended up spending 1.5 hours talking to JimB. Can't remember if he showed him around or just talked.

Matthew said at one point Jim went to get something and Matthew commented to a worker that he felt kinda bad tying up Jim's time. The worker's response was something along the lines of "don't worry about it, if he wasn't talking to you he'd just be in his office reading Chiptalk," lol...not sure how true that is, but the point is Jim was extremely hospitable to him, so would be surprised if they wouldn't do a tour.

noelsarchs · #10 (**permalink**) 03-13-2006, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadeInDetroit

I've got family near Portland, Maine. This sounds worth checking into, I'll make some calls.

One of the best restaurants I've ever been to is in the old section of Portland. Tiny place on the 2nd floor above another restaurant and I don't know if I would ever find it now