I found another Bingo game at the sale this past weekend. When I went to put it away with rest of my Bingo games, I realized how many I had. Like pipe cleaners I have trouble passing them by.
I have a stash of them. Sometimes the boxes are in such poor condition that I don't keep them, just the cards. Sometimes I find just a stack of cards. I do like the old boxes tho.
Sometimes I just keep the box top if the graphics are great.
There are variations with the game of Bingo. Some used spinners to figure out the numbers to call out.
Other sets had fancy little bingo selectors. The red selectors have a wheel you would crank and the bingo number to call out would pop out into a little opening.
I like sets that are still tidy in the box when you find them. This set had a shaker box instead of selector or spinner to help determine the number to call.
I am often reminded of the thriftiness of past generations when I see what they stored their markers or numbers in within the game box.
I have quite a collection of the cards. I have 24 different designs in my stash that I craft with.
Much of my stash lives in this metal file drawer.
I also am amazed at the variety of markers that were produced for this game.
There were also a wide variety of number styles.
I do use these numbers and markers for crafting.
The game of bingo has been around forever. I googled this little tidbit while looking for information on the game.
When the game reached North America in 1929, it became known as "beano". It was first played at a carnival near Atlanta, Georgia. New York toy salesman Edwin S. Lowe renamed it "bingo" after he overheard someone accidentally yell "bingo" instead of "beano". He hired a Columbia University math professor, Carl Leffler, to help him increase the number of combinations in bingo cards. By 1930, Leffler had invented 6,000 different bingo cards. [It is said that Leffler then went insane.]
A Catholic priest from Pennsylvania approached Lowe about using bingo as a means of raising church funds. When bingo started being played in churches it became increasingly popular. By 1934, an estimated 10,000 bingo games were played weekly, and today more than $90 million dollars are spent on bingo each week in North America alone.
I do find it hard to pass these cards by. This is the overflow that won't fit in my metal file box.
If you have an idea for a future collection challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of _____." I may just shout out BINGO, I have a collection of those!
Man...and I can't even find one package of Bingo Cards! Fun, fun post! =D
Posted by: shirley hatfield | July 17, 2012 at 06:48 AM
I have some of those spinners but I didn't know what they went with. I just loved the colors. I think that is why Bingo is so fun, graphic, colorful and loads of pieces. Love your LUXURY edition...smiles...Renee
Posted by: Renee | July 17, 2012 at 06:57 AM
Not only do you have the best collections of anything vintage...You are so organized too! The graphics are just wonderful on those Bingo games.
Thanks for sharing ~ Your blog has brought nothing but joy and inspiration to me :-)
Posted by: Doreen | July 17, 2012 at 08:36 AM
Who knew ?!!
Where else can you find info like this? Thanks Laurie. The boxes are so appealing. They really make the game look exciting.
Posted by: janet | July 17, 2012 at 09:06 AM
I love crafting with bingo cards and you definitely have quite the lovely stash. I've not come across any fun boxes. Just the cards. Another great collection.
Posted by: Kim Kenward | July 17, 2012 at 09:16 AM
Ah, infinite variety is what makes collecting fun! I just came home with a bingo cage...now for something fun to do with it ;)
Posted by: Lynne | July 17, 2012 at 09:58 AM
Very cool! I have a few Bingo cards for paper crafting but didn't realize there is such variety out there. Thanks for showing and telling. Say, do you collect Melmac, etc. dishes? If so, show me!
Posted by: Diane | July 17, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Your collection made me remember my first Bingo game at Church as a little girl. They had so many players that we used dried corn kernels as markers. I thought it was so exciting and came close to winning so many times. I guess that's why I love your collection.
Sheryl Remy
Posted by: Sheryl Remy | July 17, 2012 at 02:21 PM
I sell a lot of BINGO games and BINGO cards in my booth. I have the one on the bottom in the second photo - I just had to keep that one.
I have a seat of BEANO Cards - I never knew the history of it, so thanks. I only bought them because of The Bean.
Posted by: Shara | July 17, 2012 at 03:46 PM
B-I-N-G-O, BI-I-N-G-O, Bingo is your name-O! 8+)
Enjoyed the little history lesson.
Posted by: Kathy | July 17, 2012 at 07:26 PM
I love all of the graphics. Such wonderful art. Thanks for sharing your collection.
Posted by: Dorothy | July 17, 2012 at 08:21 PM
Oh, I love Bingo, and you have quite a neat collection! The Bingo-matic is cool!! Those little birdies are too cute!! Have a great day! xo Heather
Posted by: Heather | July 17, 2012 at 10:06 PM
I love using bingo cards and markers for stuff. I had lots of vintage lace to sell so I wrapped pieces around bingo cards for my booth. I think it made them sell quicker cuz those things flew out of my booth (Well, I like to think thats why, could have been just way underpriced :)
Posted by: Marci | July 18, 2012 at 07:34 PM
Very Nice collection ! I really enjoyed taking a look because I have not paid much attention to bingo stuff in the past ..... thanks for sharing !
Posted by: Lisa W. | July 18, 2012 at 08:40 PM
very cool! i have a hard time passing up ANY vintage games! i think i only have one bingo set though, and i love the ones with spinners. those graphics just get me every time.
Posted by: rae | July 20, 2012 at 07:06 AM