Parker Brothers
Parker Brothers is an American toy and game manufacturer and brand founded in 1883. The company has published over 1,800 games; among their best known products are Sorry!, Risk, The Game of Cities, Trivial Pursuit, Ouija, Black Cat Fortune Telling, Aggravation, Quit (1904), Rook (1910), Militac (1916), Pit (1919), Old Maid, Touring (1926), Hop Off (1927), Lindy (1927), Monopoly (1935), Cluedo (licensed from UK publisher), Flinch (1938), Contack (1939), Funny Bones, Cabbage Patch Kids (1984) and Probe. It has been determined that the manufacturer of Parker Bros cards was Standard Playing Card Co of Chicago. Their playing card brands included Rembrandt, Bellevue and Castle Bridge. Parker Brothers is currently a subsidiary of the multinational entertainment company Hasbro.
Above: The Game of “Doctor Busby” published by Parker Brothers, Salem, Massachusetts, USA, c.1890 more →
Above: The Game of Cities published by Parker Brothers, Salem, Massachusetts, USA, c.1898 more →
Above: Parker Brothers advertisement for Touring and Pit, c.1926.
Above: Parker Brothers advertisement for UK market.
Above: “Rook” was patented in 1910 by George S. Parker [see patent registration]. The rule book carries copyright dates of 1910, 1916 and 1919. Image courtesy Matt Probert.
Above: “Touring”, the Great Automobile Card Game, © 1926 Parker Brothers, Salem, Massachusetts more →
Above: ‘Lindy’ - the flying game - a sequel to ‘Touring’ by Parker Brothers, 1927 more →
Above: ‘Wings’, the air mail game © 1928 by Parker Brothers Inc. more →
Above: Head-to-Head Poker by Parker Brothers / Hasbro, 2005. Image courtesy Matt Probert.
Parker Games’ English subsidiary was at Ivy Lane, London, from 1908 to around 1920.
Above: Derby Day race game published by Parker Games’ English subsidiary at Ivy Lane, London more →
Above: extra card with advert for ‘Pam’.
Above: Games list, c.1900 (included with The Game of Cities).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: All images courtesy Rex Pitts (except where stated otherwise).
