Scrye 17 - 42 - X-Files CCG: Feature
invented a machine for printing, which with
one insertion produced four colors on the
faces of playing cards. His small plant grew to
become The New York Consolidated Card
Company, a major manufacturer on the East
Coast, which eventually became part of The
United States Playing Card Company.
In 1926, a Neo-Romanesque bell tower
(4-stories high) was built atop the entrance of
the company's 4-story main building. This
tower housed a fine set of 12 carillon bells,
ranging in size from 1-1/2 to 5-1/2 feet. This
was the first set of chimes built for radio
broadcasting. The chimes were connected
electronically to radio station WSAI, which
was owned and operated by The United States
Playing Card Company from 1911 until 1930
and was located within the USPC complex.
The main reason for the radio station was to
promote the game of bridge by
broadcasting bridge lessons.
However, musical concerts, news
reviews and public service
announcements were also broad-
cast, along with the bridge lessons
and chimes concerts. Because there
was no limitation on power range
in those days, WSAI transmission
was very clear and strong, being
picked up as far
away as New
Zealand. WSAI was
sold in the 1930's
to the Crosley
Radio Corporation.
one insertion produced four colors on the
faces of playing cards. His small plant grew to
become The New York Consolidated Card
Company, a major manufacturer on the East
Coast, which eventually became part of The
United States Playing Card Company.
In 1926, a Neo-Romanesque bell tower
(4-stories high) was built atop the entrance of
the company's 4-story main building. This
tower housed a fine set of 12 carillon bells,
ranging in size from 1-1/2 to 5-1/2 feet. This
was the first set of chimes built for radio
broadcasting. The chimes were connected
electronically to radio station WSAI, which
was owned and operated by The United States
Playing Card Company from 1911 until 1930
and was located within the USPC complex.
The main reason for the radio station was to
promote the game of bridge by
broadcasting bridge lessons.
However, musical concerts, news
reviews and public service
announcements were also broad-
cast, along with the bridge lessons
and chimes concerts. Because there
was no limitation on power range
in those days, WSAI transmission
was very clear and strong, being
picked up as far
away as New
Zealand. WSAI was
sold in the 1930's
to the Crosley
Radio Corporation.
The Norwood
plant maintains a
museum, featuring
the finest collec-
tion of playing
cards and memora-
bilia in the world.
Over 80,000 decks
are in this private
collection of cards,
some of which are
from the 15th,
16th and 17th cen-
turies. The collection originated
approximately 100 years ago.
plant maintains a
museum, featuring
the finest collec-
tion of playing
cards and memora-
bilia in the world.
Over 80,000 decks
are in this private
collection of cards,
some of which are
from the 15th,
16th and 17th cen-
turies. The collection originated
approximately 100 years ago.
During WWII, the company
worked clandestinely with the U.S.
Government on a top secret project
to manufacture a special deck of
cards which concealed an escape
map. These "loaded" Bicycle brand
decks were shipped into German
POW camps undetected by the German sen-
sors. Each card, when dipped in water, would
peel apart to reveal a section of a map detail-
ing geographical area and escape routings.
Also during WWII, the Company assisted
with the sewing of parachutes for anti-person-
nel fragmentation bombs, as well as the man-
ufacture of aircraft and naval ship recognition
decks.
In 1966, during the Vietnam War, the
company immediately responded when two
lieutenants in the 25th Infantry Division wrote
requesting 1000 decks containing nothing but
Bicycle's Ace of Spades. They were using the
Ace card, from their Bicycle decks, in psycho-
logical warfare against the Viet Cong, who
were very superstitious and highly frightened
by this card. USPC shipped thousands of these
"Secret Weapon" decks gratis to our troops in
Vietnam. They were laid on Viet Cong bodies
and spread throughout the jungle, clearing
many villages just by their presence.
worked clandestinely with the U.S.
Government on a top secret project
to manufacture a special deck of
cards which concealed an escape
map. These "loaded" Bicycle brand
decks were shipped into German
POW camps undetected by the German sen-
sors. Each card, when dipped in water, would
peel apart to reveal a section of a map detail-
ing geographical area and escape routings.
Also during WWII, the Company assisted
with the sewing of parachutes for anti-person-
nel fragmentation bombs, as well as the man-
ufacture of aircraft and naval ship recognition
decks.
In 1966, during the Vietnam War, the
company immediately responded when two
lieutenants in the 25th Infantry Division wrote
requesting 1000 decks containing nothing but
Bicycle's Ace of Spades. They were using the
Ace card, from their Bicycle decks, in psycho-
logical warfare against the Viet Cong, who
were very superstitious and highly frightened
by this card. USPC shipped thousands of these
"Secret Weapon" decks gratis to our troops in
Vietnam. They were laid on Viet Cong bodies
and spread throughout the jungle, clearing
many villages just by their presence.
During the Gulf War, the Company
received over 900 individual letters, from all
branches of the military, asking for playing
cards because they were unable to obtain
them in such a remote area. The Company
shipped over 50,000 decks, gratis, to each
man or woman in Operation Desert Storm
who wrote to them; continuing USPC's strong
relationship with the military which dates
back to the Spanish-
American War.
In 1986, the
Company acquired
Heraclio Fournier,
S.A., the largest play-
ing card manufactur-
er in Europe. In
1987, USPC acquired
Artco Playing Card
Company, the third
largest playing card
manufacturer in the
United States.
International Playing
Card Company, a
Canadian subsidiary
of USPC since 1914,
and formerly a man-
ufacturing opera-
tion from 1928 to
1991, is now a sales
and marketing orga-
nization located in
Ontario.
received over 900 individual letters, from all
branches of the military, asking for playing
cards because they were unable to obtain
them in such a remote area. The Company
shipped over 50,000 decks, gratis, to each
man or woman in Operation Desert Storm
who wrote to them; continuing USPC's strong
relationship with the military which dates
back to the Spanish-
American War.
In 1986, the
Company acquired
Heraclio Fournier,
S.A., the largest play-
ing card manufactur-
er in Europe. In
1987, USPC acquired
Artco Playing Card
Company, the third
largest playing card
manufacturer in the
United States.
International Playing
Card Company, a
Canadian subsidiary
of USPC since 1914,
and formerly a man-
ufacturing opera-
tion from 1928 to
1991, is now a sales
and marketing orga-
nization located in
Ontario.
The United
States Playing Card
Company experi-
enced a series of
ownership changes
beginning in 1969
when it merged
with Diamond
International. In
1982, it was then
sold to Jesup &
Lamont, New York
investment bankers,
who in turn sold it in 1989 to Frontenac, an
equity-holding company in Chicago.
In late 1994, however, after a long and
tedious struggle, Company management
headed by its President, Ronald C. Rule, along
with some local Cincinnati investors, were
finally victorious in accomplishing a buy-out
and thus returning The United States Playing
Card Company ownership back to its
Cincinnati roots.
