Kalamazoo Playing Card Co
This firm commenced producing playing cards with the name Kalamazoo Paper Box & Card Co in 1903.
Kalamazoo Playing Card Co, Michigan, U.S.A.
This firm commenced producing playing cards with the name Kalamazoo Paper Box & Card Co in 1903. Their first brands included “Steamboats”, “Strollers” and “Success”. The “Steamboats” brand was probably their least expensive, as was the case with most manufacturers who published a “Steamboat” brand. By 1906, after a period of financial difficulties, the playing card manufacturing business had become established to such an extent that the company renamed itself Kalamazoo Playing Card Co., and was thereafter devoted exclusively to the manufacture of playing cards, having dropped the paper boxes.
“Steamboats”
The Kalamazoo Paper Box & Card Co produced “Steamboats” No.66 & No.666. The Aces of Spades and Jokers were more or less the same in either case.
“Lilac Whist”
The Kalamazoo Playing Card Co used only two Aces of Spades during the life of the company, with the brand names appearing on the Jokers and boxes but not on the Aces. Brand names included Success, Aristocrat, Auction, Beauty, Chancellor, Cricket, Eureka, Hawk, Idle Hour, Strollers, Torpedo and several others. The Smart Set #400 brand had a series of period back designs featuring female beauties see more →
“Smart Set No.400”
The Kalamazoo Playing Card Company merged with the Russell Playing Card Company in around 1913 or 1914 which in turn merged with USPCC in 1929. Many of the early brand names continued to be produced under the new ownership. For example see: Aristocrat brand published by USPCC, c.1995.
By Rod Starling (1936-2023)
Member since January 09, 2013
Rod Starling was one of the founding members of the 52 Plus Joker card collectors club. He authored many articles for the club's quarterly newsletter, Clear the Decks. His collection encompasses both foreign and American decks. Rod also authored a book titled The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards.
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