Chesterfield Illegals

Wedge Rock · #1 (**permalink**) 04-03-2006, 06:03 PM

I just picked these up on eBay for $19.50 shipped.

This is the complete set of Chesterfields (at least as far as I'm able to tell). The Chesterfield was a prohibition-era illegal club run by Lincoln Fitzgerald and two boyhood friends, George Weinbrenner and Danny Sullivan. The club was named after the George's favorite cigarette. Fizgerald eventually took the non-denominated "CC" chips with him when he opened the Reno Club in Reno, NV, where they were used as $1 chips.

There was an assassination attempt on Fitzgerld in November 1949, three years after he opened the Reno Club. Fitzgerald was shot with a sawed-off shotgun in his driveway. Though he survived the attack, he spent six months in the hospital and was left with a permanent limp. After the attack, he became a recluse, moved into the Reno Club permanently, rarely went anywhere without his bodyguards, and refused to have his picture taken. Many believed that the Purple Gang was responsible for the hit. In earlier days, Fitzgerald was a bookkeeper for the Purple Gang, which ran the Detroit Underworld during Prohibition. I've also read that Fitzgerald's wife, Meta, made frequent trips to Detroit with a briefcase, suppossedly full of cash as a tribute to the Purples. Fitzgerald died in 1981.

There seem to be quite a bit of the non-denominated chips on the market (seeing that they were used in his legitimate casino in Reno for quite some time). But the denominated Chesterfiled chips are harder to come by. These are "Seal & Crest" chips (clay chips with litho inlays and flat rims, i.e., no embossed mold rims) were manufactured by the US Playing Card Company of Cincinnati, OH and shipped to the Chesterfield Club in 1936.

If anyone has access to them, I'm interested in chips from other illegal card rooms in Detroit (Gratiot Club, 21 West Elizabeth, 20715 Van D y k e, 24845 Gratiot Ave., Charlevoix Club, Colonial Club, or Old Heidelberg Hotel).

hachkc · #2 (**permalink**) 04-03-2006, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wedge Rock

. . . Detroit (Gratiot Club, 21 West Elizabeth, 20715 Van ****, 24845 Gratiot Ave., Charlevoix Club, Colonial Club, or Old Heidelberg Hotel).

Van what?

Sorry, just found that humorous as I never associated that road with that word till now.

Ryan · #3 (**permalink**) 04-03-2006, 06:27 PM

Hahahaha. Now that is pretty funny. I live about 5 minutes away from said street (around the 23 mile rd area) and i have never associated the two either. That was pretty funny to see that.

Wedge Rock · #4 (**permalink**) 04-03-2006, 06:41 PM

The two Michiganders both knew what the real word was... for those not from the area, it was Van D y k e. Corrected in the original.

hachkc · #5 (**permalink**) 04-03-2006, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wedge Rock

The two Michiganders both knew what the real word was... for those not from the area, it was Van D y k e. Corrected in the original.

T H A N K S for letting everyone in on it Wedge.

jamby · #6 (**permalink**) 04-03-2006, 09:16 PM

You do indeed have the complete 5-chip set. Here's a link to Ed Hertel's awesome and FREE Illegal Guide http://chipster.net/guide/guide.htm. You'll be able to check out these chips and many others in Ed's searchable guide.

At least one of the reasons that the non-denom chip is so plentiful while the rest of the set isn't is that Fitzgerald apparently only took those chips to Tahoe and Reno to use at the Nevada Lodge and the Nevada Club. It appears that he had a very large supply of the non-denom chips available.

Lastly, based on the background, you've apparently purchased your set from John (chipman21) on ebay. You picked an awesome seller to buy from.

Happy chipping,
jamby

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wedge Rock

This is the complete set of Chesterfields (at least as far as I'm able to tell). ... There seem to be quite a bit of the non-denominated chips on the market (seeing that they were used in his legitimate casino in Reno for quite some time).

Wedge Rock · #7 (**permalink**) 04-03-2006, 10:15 PM

I used Buy-It-Now and payed with Paypal on a Sunday... that night, Chipman (John), said they'd ship today (Monday). So far, so good. Can't wait to hold the chips.

Thanks, Jamby.

rugerjw · #8 (**permalink**) 02-20-2007, 05:12 PM

I dont now how long this will take you to get but, I just picked up colonial club iilegels. 256 to be exact $1 white $1 red and $25 yellow spread out even. Can you tell me more about these, and maybe what their worth.

rugerjw · #9 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 08:50 PM

I have colonial club from chicago illinios to trade or buy.

Wedge Rock · #10 (**permalink**) 03-01-2007, 09:19 PM

Those are some sharp looking chips. Nice catch.

You have extras to trade?