Posted 10 years ago
katyrose
(14 items)
Backgammon game made by Edward J Cadigan Inc of Springfield, MA. Instruction book is dated 1930. The outside case material seems to be made of vinyl over heavy paper or cardboard. The inside is lined with paper printed with the game markings. The playing pieces appear to be made of some type of plastic as you can see faint "mold" lines on them. The tops of the playing pieces have the swastika symbol on them. Don't know anything about this set and can't find another one anywhere on line. This game came out of my Grandmother's house that we are cleaning out. Any info would be appreciated.
I did some searches and found one on worthpoint web site,but I couldnt tell how much it sold for. The swastikas are a symbol of good luck here...nothing bad...the site listed the pieces as clay, but not too sure :)
I would love to have one! My girlfriend, Jacky, is a Kraut raised in E. Berlin & hates anything like this. I love to irritate her with such sh-t! Makes for better sex in the end! I actually think she is a Nazi at heart. LOL!!
Thanks for the comments! It makes sense that the playing pieces are clay. I put down plastic because I didn't know what they were. They do seem like clay! The swastika was originally a religious symbol I think. In 1930 it would not have been considered negative.
My grandparents have this same set and filled me in on its history a little. My grandfather said the "good luck" swastika checkers are made of/from "bakelite". This design of checker was first produced by G. H. Harris Company of Brooklyn in 1920. They used the design on their already famous product: sanitary checkers. Cutler & Saleeby, Inc used the popular design in their Springfield, Mass. production ten years later. Giving us these peculiar, swastika-laden backgammon checkers. A complete set in mint condition is probably worth around $40. Haha, so don't believe those eBay vendors who want you to think your grandparents were hiding a valuable box of Nazi-Party paraphernalia!