2) PAGE #2 PRICE OF ALL CHIPS ARE $5

3) PAGE #3 PRICE OF ALL CHIPS ARE $4

4) PAGE #4 PRICE OF ALL CHIPS ARE $3

5) PAGE #5 PRICE OF ALL CHIPS ARE $2

POTD LAST: #14 FIVE DOLLAR BETTER CHIPS GROUP #1

LARRY FLYNT’s LUCKY LADY GARDENA, CA

By: J. Eric Freedner

My story about the new Lucky Lady. I had been following the ups and downs of the Normandie Casino online - open, now closed, but actually still open . . . until news of Larry Flynt's purchase of the casino hit the news. But as you know, a big ruckus erupted between Larry and the City of Gardena which wanted a guarantee of $800,000 tax revenue per month in return for certain "favorable allowances." Mr. Flynt refused to cave in and kept the casino closed . . . for a few days. I recognized this as the classic poker-bluff.

Sure enough, the City caved in, and in a news release on July 19, it was announced that the Lucky Lady might open as soon as Friday, July 20. I read this on July 20 . . . and decided to drive down to Gardena to see for myself, with no great expectation that the casino would indeed be open.

But, surprise! The new Lucky Lady was open, in fact its grand opening, marked only by a workman hurriedly applying a new Lucky Lady decal to the front doors. It must have been hurriedly arranged - no balloons, flowers or that sort of thing. Just some dedicated gamblers playin' away . . . with new chips! Which, when I bought some at the Cage, turned out to have the naked lady on the inlay. Shocking, but fun! I had all of $65 with me at the time, and this went fast for 50¢, $1, and $5 chips. Walked around the tables and asked a dealer what those green chips were - $2 drop chips, she replied. Welllll . . . back to the cage for some of those, which the cashier graciously sold. But then - I spied some red chips in a rack and was told they were $3 drop chips - not currently on the tables. But, I asked the cashier, could I buy some as a collector? She shrugged and said it was all right with her. Next problem: no more cash!

Drove frantically around Gardena looking for a compatible ATM and sure enough, a block from the Hustler, the right bank appeared. So, with a newly-acquired $100 bankroll in my pocket, I raced back to the Lucky Lady and bought more chips, including those $3 ones.

Best chuckle of the night: seeing a patron approach the doors of the Lucky Lady, stop, and stare at the new decals. He did a double-take, as if he was on "Candid Camera." But the doors had a familiar look to them, so in he went. I can only imagine his surprise when he got a handful of naked lady chips for his game!

Anyway, that's one of the few casino grand openings that I ever attended, and pretty much all by accident.

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How to Clean Chips

http://www.ccgtcc.com/cleaning.html
To Clean or Not to Clean
• I like 'em dirty! Adds character.
• I clean my own chips in my collection as I see fit. I don't clean traders. I leave that decision for the new owner.
• I don't clean my chips or my traders.
• Don't clean worn chips. Worn chips that are spotless look unnatural and unattractive.
• Don't clean chips that you intend to trade or sell, let the new owner decide if they would like the chip to be cleaned.
• I don't clean used chips, other than to take off the big globs. For my collection, I currently live by the philosophy that I can always clean them later, but I can never put the history back on. I have lots of chips "awaiting a decision."
• Not all chips are created equal. Some old chips should be cleaned. Can even remove light cigarette burns.
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Chips that should NOT be Cleaned
• Worn chips
• Very old or expensive chips
• Chips with paper inserts
• Chips that are very dirty
• Chips that are of a light or bright color, like sky blue or orange, show dirt more readily than darker colors. Even if they are not very dirty, sometimes you cannot remove all the dirt from a light or bright colored chip and you are left with an odd looking chip.
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How to Clean Chips
• Use a very soft bristled toothbrush.
• Let experts clean very old or expensive chips.
• A pencil eraser is good for removing scuffs and crud from old chips.
• These cleaners have been reported to have good results cleaning chips: mild dishwashing detergent, Armor All Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Quick'n'Brite, Sterling Magic.
• The trick seems to be to find something that will dissolve the greasy deposits that accumulate on well used chips, without removing any ink, or leeching moisture from the chip. Quick'n'Brite is a thick paste, and does not seem to encourage any moisture transfer, while doing an excellent job of breaking down the greasy gunk. I just stick the chip in the bucket edgewise, rotate it a few time to coat the chip thoroughly, wait about 15-30 seconds, then wipe the chip down with a washcloth. It's revolting how dirty that washcloth gets after only a few chips.
• I use Sterling Magic full strength with a toothbrush. I use no water and just wipe clean with a cloth. It has never, never, ever dried the chip out or caused it to fade. If the chip has a hot stamp, I don't use the toothbrush on that part, I just dab a little on with my finger and gently wipe it off with the cloth.
• I clean virtually all of my chips except those that come straight from the cage and have never seen play. I have also experienced no fading or drying out. The pink goop (Sterling Magic) is great stuff.
• I've been using Armor All Multi-Purpose Cleaning with fantastic results for the past year, no damage to chip, luster and shine are still there...and it cleans the chip. Don't use any other Armor All product i.e., tire cleaner, window, bug, etc.
• Waterless hand cleaner, non abrasive, with lanolin and a bath of johnson baby oil will restore the luster. Give it a bath of oil, let soak for an hour or so on a bath towel turn once after a while wipe dry. Regular mineral oil is too oily
• I use a soft toothbrush & Fantastik. I spray both sides of the chip & clean the dirt off with the toothbrush & then rinse under warm water. I dry the chip with a paper towel. I then use a VERY small amount of mineral oil (which brings out the true colors of the chip which may have been lost over time or due to cleaning) rubbed between two fingers & work it into the chip. That entire process should not take more than a minute. I'll then let the chip dry for 24 hours on one side & turn it over & let dry for another 24 hours before storing the chip.
• I used a soft children's tooth brush and window cleaner. Hot stamps will turn from gold to silver, so they get covered with my thumb and I only clean the mold designs. Chipco, Paulson graphics BJ and others of like design are much more durable.
• I don't clean many of my chips, but when I do I use Amway's L.O.C. (Liquid Organic Cleaner and a baby's tooth brush (much softer than a regular soft toothbrush.) I put a few drops of L.O.C. on the chip and brush very lightly. I so this to remove the surface dirt. If the chip is extremely dirty I generally leave it alone. It sometimes looks better dirty.
• Try Johnson & Johnson baby gel instead of oils to restore the luster. I've been told this by a noted chip collector and restorer.
• Crest and seals - Clean with a 3M scouring pad or wet/dry sandpaper. Then bring back coloring with Johnson & Johnson Baby Gel. (Note: the 3M scouring pad is non-abrasive, it is sold for cleaning dishes.)
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How NOT to Clean Chips
• Don't clean the hot stamp with a toothbrush, only gently rub the cleaner in with your fingers.
• Never use anything abrasive to clean your chips.
• Don't use steam to clean clay chips, the steam will heat the chip until it softens and will warp.
• I did ruin a batch of old clays once by putting them in the washing machine with bleach and Tide, it messed them up pretty bad and was very loud to boot.
• I find tying them up in an old T-shirt and running them through the washing machine cycle usually does the trick. However, for that really tough grime that gets lodged down in the bottom of the cane in the hat&cane or the crevices in a small key mold, there's really nothing like a good stiff wire brush and some elbow grease. A little vaseline to bring out the colors when you're done, and Viola! (This is meant as a joke.)
• Do not clean a hot stamped chip with a toothbrush, instead gently rub with your fingers
• I have had very good luck with Sterling's Magic cleaner. However, when I cleaned some old Mint roulettes (this is the series with the small crown mold and a round white inlay) I ended up removing a thin clear plastic cap that covers the inlay.
• Once I was cleaning (I think a Diamond Jim) inlay chip with what I usually use -- dove hand soap bar, toothbrush pared down and warm water, and water got under and discolored the inlay. I think it must have happened because the inlay was weak/lifting some/damaged.
• Once I really screwed up. I had a lot of dried out, faded embossed style poker chips (maybe the Golfer wearing knickers) I often rub chips like these with sewing machine oil (or mineral oil, or Vitamin E liquid). I'd apply the oil and rub it off right away with a paper towel.....But
this time I left all the chips in a pot on mineral oil overnight, and in the morning a found them practically ruined. As I remember, the main
problem was that rings and crescents were left on the chips where one chip rested on another.
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Chip Cleaning Horror Stories
• I was using my soft toothbrush with Sterling's Magic to clean this Club Savoy chip ("Q" rated). The sink in which I was doing the cleaning is made out of stainless steel. Because I didn't want to disturb the hot stamp, I put my thumb over the center of the chip. I guess I put a little too much pressure. That, combined with the fact that a stainless steel sink flexes, resulted in a "SNAP". Moral of the story: clean chips on a hard surface, not one that will flex. Don't clean the hot stamp with a toothbrush, only gently rub the cleaner in with your fingers.
• Reprinted with the permission of Charles Kaplan.

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FEATURED CHIP OF THE DAY
MOST OR ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN ON A PAGE A DAY, OR WILL BE IN THE FUTURE. THE PRICE THAT ACCOMPANIES IT WILL BE THE FULL PRICE NO SHIPPING CHARGES ON THIS CHIP. TRADE OFFERS ACCEPTED. INSURANCE WILL BE EXTRA SHOULD YOU WANT IT. THE SELECTION OF CHIPS FEATURED WILL BE BASED ON SEVERAL THINGS INCLUDING: UNIQUENESS, SCARCITY, BEAUTY AND CONDITION.
NOTE: See the Chip Guide for reverse side image and additional information, if necessary… reg

$3

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A WANTED CHIP

This is a chip I would like to acquire through trade or purchase please email if you have one available or know someone who has one available. Even if you do not have the denomination or mold shown, you should know that it is possible that I may need other denominations or molds from this casino. Please email me with any items that you would like to sell or trade. Please make your request for trade and the price you would like for this item. Thanks, Reggie

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FREE, FREE, FREE or NOT

I will endeavor to provide these free personal chips shown below to everyone that makes even a minimal order. There are a few of other peoples personals, these were acquired by mistake or given to me by someone other than the sponsor of the chip. They need a good home, and to those of you that are thinking of having a personal chip made for the first time let me say it always a good idea. We have 2 or 3 people that make these within our club. This is always fun around a poker table, people are genuinely impressed with the fact that “you” have your own personal poker chip.
So let me elaborate a little more on the way you can own one or more of these chips shown below. First they are FREE to any one that makes a purchase.
Also, if you do not want to make a purchase and are more into trading, I will trade any personal chip for any chip in slightly used condition; that is not older than 6 months, common, or special it makes no difference. Please know I will trade personals for personals that I do not have.
Hope we can find some common ground to get these nice looking personals into your hands. Thank you for your interest in our ‘Very Fun Hobby” Sincerely, Reggie

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Page #6a Face

PERSONAL HARVESTING STORIES

TWIN PINES CASINO MIDDLETON, CA

IN 2006 NANCY AND I EMBARKED UPON A MONTH LONG TRIP OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
AND THE STATE OF OREGON. THIS WAS SHORTLY AFTER WE HAD PURCHASED A 22’ RV TO TRAVEL IN. ONE OF OUR STOPS EARLY IN THE TREK WAS TWIN PINES CASINO.
THIS WAS LONG BEFORE THE TERRIBLE FIRES THEY HAD A FEW YEARS BACK, THE FIRES NEARLY BURNED THIS CASINO DOWN. NOT REALLY SURE HOW CLOSE IT DID COME.
WHEN WE PULLED IN TO THE PARKING LOT IT WAS FAIRLY EARLY, NOONISH; AND THERE WAS NOT MORE THAN 5 PEOPLE BESIDES ATTENDANTS, DEALERS AND FLOOR STAFF INSIDE THE CASINO. THIS WAS ABOUT WHEN THEY BROUGHT IN THEIR FIRST SNAPPER.
SO, THAT WAS THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS OF WHICH WAS QUITE EASY OBTAINING. THE NEXT THING ON OUR UNOFFICIAL LIST WAS THE 4 INSERT (WITH 4 DASHES ON THE EDGE OF THE CHIP) ONE DOLLAR CHIP, WHICH AS THE PIT MANAGER SAID WAS A DIMISHING SPECIES. BUT, SHE WAS BORED AND HELPED UP LOOK THROUGH ALL OF THE TABLES, AND AS I REMEMBER THEY HAD 8 OR 10 TABLES IN ONE CLUSTER. WE ENDED UP LEAVING WITH ABOUT 10 SNAPPERS, 10 OF THE 4 INSERT (TOUGHIES) $1 CHIPS AND 20 OF THE EASIER 4 INSERT CHIPS. YES, WE DID LEAVE A NICE TIP.
http://www.themogh.org/cg_chip2.php?id=CAMITP
WE THEN PROCEEDED DOWN THE ROAD LOOKING FOR KONOCTI VISTA OR ROBINSON RANCHERIA WHICH EVER CAME UP FIRST. THIS WAS A VERY NICE HARVEST, TOO BAD ALL OF THEM DO NOT WORK OUT LIKE THIS…REGGIE

COLLECTION LIBRARY LINK

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO 4500 TRADERS>>>

http://www.collectionlibrary.com/Index.asp?EvApp=mls.5117&sPageName=MyTraders

THANK YOU FOR READING MY POST TODAY; REGGIE