ANTE UP: The Collection of Robert Eisenstadt We welcome you to take part in Ante Up, the auction of the Robert Eisenstadt's incredible collection. The auction takes place on January 30, 2021 at 10:00AM CT. You can visit the auction website by clicking here. You can also view the collection that is up for auction as a PDF. If you have any questions about the auction, please contact Joseph Slabaugh (joeslabaugh@potterauctions.com, 773-472-1442) at Potter & Potter Auctions.

IN MEMORIAM: Robert Eisenstadt 1942 - 2020 On June 5, 2020, Robert Eisenstadt died peacefully at home, in the loving presence of his sister Nancy and his sister's family. He will be dearly missed by all of us who loved and appreciated him. If you would like to leave a story about Robert, write a message, or read what others have written, please click here. He took pride in his collection and loved sharing it with fellow enthusiasts; please have a look and enjoy.

This is my best catalin poker chip rack.  It is the only one I have ever seen. I made a page for it here just for the fun of it.  It is a standard size carousel -- 8 columns, holds 200 1-1/2" chips.  The handle, carousel body and chips are catalin.  The pedestal seems to be regular black plastic, and --as you can see-- there is a stainless steel metal ring about the lower portion.  The catalin chips have quite unusual colors.  There is some dust on it in the first picture; then I cleaned it off for the other two.

IDENTIFYING CATALIN/BAKELITE:  With the possible exception of  these poker chips (which one happy customer said, "Yes, they are.  They passed the hot water test by giving the famous bakelite smell but I did a simichrome test just to be absolutely sure.  Definitely bake!  I am so happy to have them!") , which I sell for $10 each, I don't know of any catalin/bakelite chips that have any fine incused/embossed features on them.  For example, I don't know of any catalin/bakelite chips with interlocking rim rays.  Furthermore, the only catalin/bakelite chips I know of that have any value are the (1) plain, thick (about 1/8" thick) 1-1/2" ones,  (2) thin 1-1/8" ones, and (3) thin 7/8" ones -- all of which may or may not have marbleized swirls (but usually you see at least some swirls when a chip is held up to a bright light) and which can not be broken with your fingers.  And if you do break the item (say with two pair of pliers [and protect your eyes as you break it]), it will have a slick plastic-like inside, not granular-like as with a clay chip.  For more confusion on the subject,  click here , and here .

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