The Sands Club, located at 3850 San Pablo Ave. in Emeryville, Ca., was in operation from 1974 to 1977. An oriental club, as you can see by the writing in the window and on the chips. The bottom pic is a close-up of the windows. A great big thanks to Larry Odems who sent me this pic. If I’m not mistaken, the building has been preserved by the Emeryville Historical Socity.

More than a year ago, I placed a “buying casino/poker chips” ad in our local paper (Now, when I say local, I mean we have one weekly publication that covers several hundred square miles and three counties) Anyway, I received a call from an ‘ol boy who lived over a hundred miles away stating he had these plastic chips. Describing them, I still had no idea what he had. We arranged for me to meet his son (who had the chips) at a halfway point so I could see what they looked like. Still not knowing what they were, I didn’t want to buy all he had. His son said I could have one set while I investigated the origin of them. I’ll show them in my second post.

In the mean time, at last years convention, I found a couple of regular Sands Club chips. The writing on them looked familiar. When I returned home I dug out the plastic chips. ‘Sho nuf, they matched. I really don’t know why they are so different or what game they might have been used for.

I’m sure a couple of fellow Calif. collectors wouldn’t mind having this set. But, here’s the stinker……I don’t remember this guys name… ..I don’t remember his phone number. I recall what town he lives in but, that’s about all. I'll try to locate him again if anyone is interested in the chips.

Anyway, here’s the building. Second post will be of the chips.

Rick