although apparently not on this board yet (When I posted aboved I thought he had already made his announcement here and as I didn't have the time to go through past posts made my post - in any event, here is ARCHIE'S announcement:

December 6, 2006

RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

To all of my customers and A.C. New Issue Subscribers;

After several off-again, on-again discussions over the past few months with my wife, Brenda, and the realization that I will be turning 69 years of age in 2007, please be advised that effective December 31, 2006, “Mr. Chips, Inc.” will cease to be in business. I’ve come to a point in my life where I prefer to be doing other things with my spare time and plan to devote more attention to my family and to my hobby.

With the passing of my Mom in November, I’ll no longer require the addtional resources that the chip business has provided me with to supplement my monthly social security income. It is with deep regret that I announce my official retirement from an activity that has given me much pleasure over these past several years.

I will pick up any new A.C. chip issues that are planned for release during the remainding month of December and will send them out by the end of the year with the usual monthly invoice along with my complimentary e-newsletter. Hopefully this retirement notice will provide all of you with ample time to make alternate arrangements to secure another provider source for any new Atlantic City chips that are issued after the 1st of the year. If any of you have any outstanding unpaid invoices, I would appreciate bringing your payments up to date to allow me to update and close out my records. In the possible event that I may transfer my mailing list to a new owner to pick up the new issue service where I left off, please advise if you wish your name to be removed.

I’m not 100% certain at this point in time if I will continue to publish my catalogs, or if I will continue my A.C. website. Thank you all for your past business. It was a lot of very rewarding work and fun. You’ve been a great bunch of honest people to deal with and I thank you all for your valued friendships.

Best wishes, Archie Black