So, way back is 2013 (April 26th), my then employer sent me to a training class, hosted at Lockheed Missile Systems Company, in Sunnyvale, CA. My family accompanied me on on one of the off days, we visited the Computer History Museum of Mountain View, CA.
While touring this most excellent museum (we should be so lucky!) I saw a large wall display referencing a 1970's, early geek hangout that was variously called, Jerry's Wagon Wheel, Walter's Wagon Wheel and simply, Wagon Wheel. In the display were some green and red, hot-stamped, plastic interlocking chips. The hot-stamp was "Jerry's Wagon Wheel" on one side of both the red and green chips. The hot-stamp on the reverse sides for the red chips was "ONE WELL" and, "ONE CALL" for the green chips.
In the meantime, a description card stated as follows: "Wagon Wheel Poker Chips, 1970's", continuing with, "The Wagon Wheel's Car Room came under fire for non-compliance with California's 1997 Gambling Control Act. The bar closed in 2000."
ChipGuide did NOT have an entry for this operation, under any of the 3 names, although I did set up an entry for "Wagon Wheel". The Gaming Table (TGT) does have an entry for "Wagon Wheel Casino" Mountain View, CA, but nothing with a preceding "Jerry's" or "Walker's".
I have contacted the Museum, asking permission to use their online catalog/gallery images, showing the plastic chips and a still photo of the building being demolished, but do not expect to hear back soon. In the meantime, while at the Museum in 2013, I did take some pictures, albeit poor ones, that I will post here, but caution anyone to NOT submit these to ChipGuide, or otherwise post them to ChipGuide.
To view a better image of the chips, visit the Computer History Museum website (an excellent website at that) at: http://www.computerhistory.org/ and use their catalog and search utility for item #: 102674817. In doing so, please do not copy the image for use on ChipGuide.
And so.... why this post? I am looking for additional information about this place. Was it an illegal operation? Are there other chips, more like denominated chips? What does "well" and "call" mean? A well drink, a called bet? Any newspaper info?
Thanks for looking!
Jim
|