was used to create a shaved deck. Taking a good deck of cards, where every card is the exact same size, you tighten down the adjustable jigs and trim a fine sliver off the edge of every card to have each card be tapered on one edge. When all the cards are aligned with the taper on the same side, the deck looks square and normal.

However, lets say you want to be able to find a special card (say an Ace) just put it in the deck where the taper is on the other edge and with practice, you can pull that one card out when it is needed most.

While this can be done by card cheats, it is most often done by slight of hand artists (magicians). "Here, pick a card. Dont't show to me and put it back in the deck. Now I'll find your card."

Jim

ps. Gene, great work! Question, do you suppose that the box maker's card that indicates he makes boxes to hold "checks" might be a reference to 'chips' and perhaps the "G" stands for "George" the box maker and maker of gaming equipment? JF