Well, how very interesting...

Today I was at a local (Tucson, AZ) antique faire in 105 degree heat and came across a zip-lock bag with four Nevada Biltmore $5 chips.

Not knowing anything about Nevada Biltmore chips, I bought the four chips and went on my way. Later on, I started to do some research. First stop TCR. No listing for a $5 with DOTS, but there was a listing for a $25 with DOTS. It also had a picture and sure enough, the hot-stamp "Nevada Biltmore" on the $25 was the same as on my $5. Therefore, I believe the chip to be from the first issue of Nevada Biltmore chips.

I also checked in the C/W guide. Only the $25 (w/DOTS) was listed and it too was pictured. Again, the "Nevada Biltmore" hot-stamp matched.

Next step, a Google search for Nevada Biltmore. Very few hits, with nothing to write home about. Next, a Chip Board subject search.

Wow! It seems that there has been some recent (very recent) discussions about Nevada Biltmore chips. And not only that, but the discussions pointed towards Tucson as being a place where at least 6 of these chips turned up.

And now my four chips are on top of those, for a total of 10. So, within a week we have gone from no record of a chips exists to a find of 10; in two separate groups of 6 and 4 in the same town.

What more can I say, except that I plan on hanging on to these for the time being, but will bring them to the Convention.

Now, does anyone have information about the Nevada Biltmore, such as size, number and type of games, etc.? The price giudes indicate 1944 - 1950 as years of operation at 614 N. Main, Las Vegas, NV. The Dice-man's guide has four different versions of dice for the Biltmore, which means they had at least one craps table during their six years of operation. The Dice-man also points out that the Biltmore was built by Los Angeles businessman Bob Brooks and was fronted by bandmaster Horace Heidt.

I will check those names for fa,ily here in Tucson. But other info sure would be nice.

Thanks,

Jim Follis