This magnificent collection will be part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum.
For photos and provenance please read this website. If you would like to preview before it goes on exhibit - please call R.T. James at 561-906-2626. It can be seen in Boynton Beach, Florida
Email: rtj123@bellsouth.net
This collection represents the past with a fabulous future
HAND CRAFTED IN THE ROARING 20's
KNOWN AS THE GREAT GATSBY ERA
"HIGH ROLLERS COLLECTION"
Provenance At Its Best - A Museum Quality Casino
(1) Black Jack Table, (1) Craps Table, (1) Roulette Table
Circa 1920's in Pristine Condition.
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This is the only known assembled CASINO collection in the world and is truly
"One of a Kind - Unique and Rare"
In 1952 the FBI headed by J Edgar Hoover destroyed most of the gaming tables and One Arm Bandits during their crack down on illegal gambling. It is a miracle this collection surrived the massive destruction. It was hidden in the New Orleans wearhouse district untill going on display at the Bella Rose Mansion in Ponchatoula, Louisiana.
The 1949 set of 5 Indian Chief One Arm Bandit Slot Machines are in 100% original pristine condition, all working and have the original old coinage in the viewing panel in front of each machine mixed in with the newer coins as the machines were played over the years. One old coin could be worth thousands. The original keys plus a spare set is included.
There is a 5 cent machine, a 10 cent machine, a 25 cent machine, a 50 cent piece machine and a silver dollar machine. They were manufactured by the Jennings Company in Chicago. Deputy Chief Joe Crittenden of the Cherokee Nation said he thought they represented the 5 peaceful tribes of Native Americans.
He said those 5 tribes are:
(1) Seminoles, (2) Miccosukee, (3) Cherokee, (4) Choctaw, (5) Chicasaw.
Please Click on all Pictures to Enlarge
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Three term Mayor Ralph James acquired this vintage "casino" in 1986 due to his friendship with Jefferson Parish DA Jim Garrison. He used the tables to have exclusive Monte Carlo Nights at his estate in Ponchatoula, Louisiana raising money for his favorite charities. Jim Garrison rocketed to fame when he challenged the Warren Commission on JFK's assination. Oliver Stone made a movie of the events in his film JFK.
****An excerpt from Miami Historian, Roland Castro's appraisal reads: "Since this is a luxury item, the economy, as a whole, does not diminish the value. Just as Exotic Sports Cars, Yachts and Gulfstream airplanes can be afforded by a certain few, this is the category Mayor James' "One of a Kind" High Rollers Collection is in."
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CIRCA 1920's CRAPS TABLE FROM "THE GATSBY ERA"
Dimensions: 10' 7" in length, 4'5" wide, 40" high
This magnificent table is hand-carved mahogany - has all the original accessories, including the dice, various denominations of chips, chip rack and cover, bakelite chip tray, coupier sticks, money box, on, off, buy, sell chips, original money paddle and much more. It is in excellent condition. It was used illegally and professionally at Club Unique also known as Cap's Place just north of Miami in Lighthouse Point. When Cap's Place was under pressure from the FBI to close down illegal gambling operations, this Craps was moved to New Orleans to prevent it from being destroyed. Caps Place opened around 1928 and received world attention when President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill held a series of secret war conferences right here in "Cap's Place." It isn't recorded if they did any gambling while there. What do you think? The present owner, Tom Hasis, of Cap's Place said Meyer Lansky and many other famous people played on this table. Cap's Place is still open as a resrtaurant and serves fantastic seafood.
(Affidavit of provenance, appraisals and research books are available to the museum project)
This very interesting to read on how "Craps" got it's name
In the early 1800's Bernard Marigny from New Orleans traveled to France to visit his friend, Johnny Crapaud. This game in France was called the "Dice Game." Mr. Marigny liked the game so much that he had a table shipped to New Orleans for him and his friends to play on. This is how the "Dice Game" was introduced to America. Bernard and his friends called it "Johnny Crapauds Game." It was later shortened to "Craps" for Johnny's last name. Bernard was a wild gambler. There is a street in the French Quarter named after him.
* Page 89 - Taken from the Historical Record at Fontainbleu State Park in Mandeville, Louisiana.
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL PICTURES TO ENLARGE
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Circa 1920 Roulette Table with Original Ivory Ball
This mahogany Roulette Table is on hand-carved bear claw feet. It is from the Great Gatsby Era also known as the "ROARING TWENTIES." It is in pristine condition and has all the original accessories with it including the ivory ball and the original money box and the original key. It is the exact mate to the Black Jack Table. It was used professionally with it's Black Jack Table at Edward R. Bradley's Beach Club in Palm Beach before being relocated to his casino interest in New Orleans. In 1926 Mr. Bradley purchased the Fair Grounds Race Course. The "Colonel E.R Bradley Handicap" is named in his memory and is raced annually in January at the Fair Grounds Race Course. Mr Bradley owned Idle Hour Stock Farm and had 4 Kentucky Derby winners.
(Dimensions: Roulette wheel 31" wide, Table 5' wide, 8' 9" long, 43" at the narrow point, 35 1/2" high).
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL PICTURES TO ENLARGE
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CIRCA 1920 BLACK JACK TABLE
This Black Jack Table is made of mahogany with hand-carved bear claw feet and is from "The Roaring Twenties" - also known as The Great Gatsby Era.
(Dimensions: 40" wide, 6' long, 37" high).
It is in magnificent condition and is the perfect mate to the Roulette Table from the same era with both having hand carved bear claw feet. These two tables have never been separated from each other and are in mint condition. They were first used professionally at E.R. Bradley's Beach Club in Palm Beach before being moved to his casino interest in New Orleans.
What A Fabulous Duo!!!!
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Recent appraisal and research books on this collection were done by Florida State Historian, Roland Castro. He has agreed to participate in making the museum exhibit an exceptional recapture of a by gone era.
Mr. Castro was a celebrity guest appraiser on the Antiques Roadshow. He is a graduate of the University of Miami and has traveled all over the world seeking knowledge and history on all exclusive art forms.
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*****PLEASE NOTE: IT IS LEGAL TO COLLECT AND OWN GAMING EQUIPMENT, FOR THIS CATEGORY, ANTIQUE IS CONSIDERED ANY ITEM OVER 25 YEARS OLD. ANYONE MAY LEGALLY BUY, SELL OR OWN THIS TYPE OF EQUIPMENT.
What an honor to preserve something that played such an important part in the history of gaming
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