The GMH chips were left on the doorstep of a children’s After School Kids Program in Riggins ID as a donation. Diane Thach, one of the volunteers at the ASK program had some spare time and went to the internet to try to find out something about the chips. She found me and both of us have been on a search mission for about a year.

The GMH chips were sent to L.D. Sweeney, Hailey, ID, 1937 for use at the Alpine Club in Ketchum, ID.
Glendora Owens now living in Shoshone, ID bought the Alpine from Ted Tintinger in the early 50’s. She told me she thought Tintinger had moved to Las Vegas and opened a bar. I found no trace of him in LV but thanks to Mark Englebretson ashtray posts, I found Tintinger in Ely, NV. He had opened an Alpine Club there. Ashtrays from Ketchum and Ely are exactly the same except for City & State. Tintinger was listed in the 1955 Ely phone book. Not listed in the 52 or 56 phone books. There is no proof the GMH chips were used in Ely.

I have been researching the chips for well over a year, hoping to come up with a name or names to match with the initials on the chips. It was not unusual in illegals to have one or more operating partners for the gambling. The Wood River Journal of Ketchum ran a column I wrote on the chips trying to help. In my calls to Idaho residents and the library information we received, there are two names that came up on a regular basis. Lou Hill and Posey Gruener could possibly be the G and H on the chips.

The Library sent me excerpts from books and pictures of Ernest Hemmingway with comments from his wife about gambling in the Alpine. It seems it was one of Hemmingway’s favorite spots in Ketchum. A picture formed in my mind, H in GMH = Hemmingway? Not much of a chance but?? At least we know Hemmingway more than likely held some of these chips in his hand as he made bets on the roulette table. Yes I believe they are roulette chips. The Mason Company delivered denominated chips in 1938 and 7 colors of non-denominated chips, in 1937. The articles describe Slots, Blackjack, and a roulette table at the Alpine.

Only 400 of the Pink & Green chips made and 300 of the Brown.
Thank you Howard Herz and Gaming Archaeology for use of the Mason records.

Only 75 sets of the 3 chips were found. They represent a nice piece of history in the Sun Valley, Ketchum, and Hailey area and the famous people that gathered there.
These will be a must have for illegal chip collectors. If you new guys are not collecting illegals here is your chance to get in on chips and history. And, the money goes to a good cause.

The 3 chips below are $29 postage included. All proceeds will go to the Riggins, ID After School Kids Program. Make checks or money orders out to ASK. Sorry no paypal.
Best chips shipped 1st.
Diane Thach
PO Box 79
Riggins, Idaho 83549
208-628-4106
thachd@jsd241.org