Ed Hertel found the 3 Circles T mold chips a couple months ago. Due to his work schedule he turned to our "Friend Of The Hobby" for the research.

Email between Ed and our "Friend Of The Hobby."
I think you’re right about the O’Brien’s Tavern/Tap. The Taylor order card looks like it says the chips were delivered to “W. J. O’Brien” but I think the “J” should be an “F” (probably a transcription error by the person writing up the Taylor card).

Enter our "Friend Of The Hobby."

William Francis O’Brien and his wife Rita moved to Amboy around 1945 and took over Dickinson’s Pool Hall and renamed it O’Brien’s Pool Room and Lunch. It was located at 63 S. East Avenue in downtown Amboy, across the street from the train depot. At some point they moved next door to 65 S. East Avenue and the place became known O’Brien’s Tavern/Tap (Rita’s brother Joe took over the pool hall location and renamed it Lynch’s Pool Hall). It also
appears that at some point between 1945 and 1954 O’Brien’s was located around the corner of the same city block, on Jones Avenue where it intersects with Main Street.

vintage photo of S. East Avenue showing location:

current street view:

My note: O'Brien passed on in January 1951. Looks like his wife keep things going including the gambling.

ad from 1953:

ad from 1954:

Dixon Evening Telegraph March 1955

William died of a heart attack in January 1951, age 36 (O’Brien’s was on East Avenue at the time). The Taylor card says that 475 of the “used” chips were shipped to the Riverside Golf Club, Riverside, IL in August of 1951. I wonder if his widow Rita returned the chips after his death?

Riverside Golf Club opened in 1893 and is still going: http://www.rgc1893.org/history

My note: Taylor shipped two other orders with the same 3 Circles design. One to O'Dwyers a big illegal in New Orleans, Louisiana 1950, 5 colors no yellow. Another order to the Continental Tavern, Jacksonville, Illinois 1950, 3 colors no yellow. I tend to agree that all or part of O'Brien's 999 yellow chip order was returned to Taylor and resold to the Riverside Golf Club.

Ed will have the 3 Circles chips available at his "Illegal Seminar" at this year's convention, for attendees. If you are not attending, there are some traders available.

This is "Illegal Of The Day" #290 on the way to 300