... in Mandel's work and listening to a ton of stories about the Villa Sierra "(club)" -- see Mandel's Index -- [re: woman who called the joint Sierra Club); and rereading all published notes backwards and forwards... and being told by many that the note: "Not only was Virgil Smith an adviser, he became a partner in concessions all over town [Reno]" kind of struck me, but when I heard over and over from locals in Reno that the quote in Mandel's work; "Some of them were in writing and some of them were word of mouth" I became further convinced that the chips were Reno... The high offers I receved to sell the balance of my inventory back then (20 pieces of $5) convinced me even more... After receiving the lashing that I did on this BBS as being a person who knows nothing more than European chips/casinos, I then decided to hold back on selling anything further until I had "ironclad" proof that the chips were Reno. I've had a lot more backup regarding Reno than Las Vegas, and at this point I'm open to listening to anyone's opinion. I only wish the one or two Reno locals who guarannteed the chips floated in Reno would come on here and say so, but the way they, too, have been hushed by a few whenever they came on here, I do not expect them to utter another word. As I've said before and will say again: too much info is not being shared on this BBS by those who have done research.

Thanks for your input and I hope that one day we will know for certain where the VS chips came from... I just do not believe they are Las Vegas (no matter what all was found with the chips).

John Benedict