The Whole Story of Walgreens STUD

[Don Boyer]

It appears that this old courts design was used until about 1960.

Do you know the correct name for this courts design?
I compared it to the 1960 Aristocrat, thinking it was a familiar design.
But it was a slightly different design.
I don't know, so I would appreciate it if you could tell me.

Those faces look to me like standard ARRCO faces, which are in use today by a few brands, though not many - Crown decks from Blue Crown would be one standout example. USPC offers ARRCO faces for less than standard USPC faces with f you want to use them for your deck design.

[nikhilp95]

Great research! Kudos! Really helpful. Recently got my hands on these studs. Based on your research, they fall between 1960-1985 period. Correct?

[touya]

Great research! Kudos! Really helpful. Recently got my hands on these studs. Based on your research, they fall between 1960-1985 period. Correct?

hi

That STUD deck is a 3rd STUD, but I presume that the zip code and the sealed package were made after the mid-1970s.

I believe your STUD deck dates from the late 1970s to about 1983.

The reason for this is the amount of STUD decks in circulation at that time.

Thank You.

[Chuqii]

I got my hands on a 1936 Stud deck, and this seems to be the place to share Stud info.  Both sides have "STUD PLAYING CARDS"

10 Cent Tax Stamp and "W" date code make these 1936.  Earliest Stud deck I've ever seen.

[Chuqii]

And here are the Spade courts, Ace and Joker.  See above post for all sides of tuck for 1936 Stud Playing Cards.

[touya]

And here are the Spade courts, Ace and Joker.  See above post for all sides of tuck for 1936 Stud Playing Cards.

hi, Chuqii.

Thanks for the great find!

Based on the embossed shape, I believe that Deck was definitely made in 1936.

I am also very happy that that STUD Deck came to you and not someone else.

[Don Boyer]

And here are the Spade courts, Ace and Joker.  See above post for all sides of tuck for 1936 Stud Playing Cards.

Hey, Chuqii, are you sure that those are from 1936?


Every source I've found listing a history of Stud Playing Cards says that Walgreens didn't start making them until 1980.


http://playingcards.wikidot.com/other-uspcc:stud
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/playing-cards/stud-playing-cards/#:~:text=In%201980%2C%20Walgreens%20began%20producing,cards%20with%20a%20complete%20makeover.
https://www.collectorplayingcards.com/2019/10/16/stud-playing-cards/
https://blackmarketdecks.com/products/stud?variant=31561835773986

I have an idea - are there any ZIP codes printed on the tuck box?  If so, it's definitively not from that long ago, as ZIP codes weren't developed until the early 1960s and weren't in widespread use until the early 1970s.

[touya]

And here are the Spade courts, Ace and Joker.  See above post for all sides of tuck for 1936 Stud Playing Cards.

Hey, Chuqii, are you sure that those are from 1936?


Every source I've found listing a history of Stud Playing Cards says that Walgreens didn't start making them until 1980.


http://playingcards.wikidot.com/other-uspcc:stud
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/playing-cards/stud-playing-cards/#:~:text=In%201980%2C%20Walgreens%20began%20producing,cards%20with%20a%20complete%20makeover.
https://www.collectorplayingcards.com/2019/10/16/stud-playing-cards/
https://blackmarketdecks.com/products/stud?variant=31561835773986

I have an idea - are there any ZIP codes printed on the tuck box?  If so, it's definitively not from that long ago, as ZIP codes weren't developed until the early 1960s and weren't in widespread use until the early 1970s.

hi,don


The content posted on the wiki is just a volunteer compilation of preliminary information at the time, including rumors that were circulating in the industry. Why do you continue to worship the wiki's old information so much and deny the latest research? I don't understand.

When I was looking through American newspaper advertisements, I found traces of Lee Asher. I admired his dedication to research. I would love to hear his opinion.


My guess is that the STUD deck that Chuqii posted was acquired from a famous collector, not from the general marketplace such as ebay. A 1936 STUD should be as rare as a Radium Deck.

[Don Boyer]

And here are the Spade courts, Ace and Joker.  See above post for all sides of tuck for 1936 Stud Playing Cards.

Hey, Chuqii, are you sure that those are from 1936?


Every source I've found listing a history of Stud Playing Cards says that Walgreens didn't start making them until 1980.


http://playingcards.wikidot.com/other-uspcc:stud
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/playing-cards/stud-playing-cards/#:~:text=In%201980%2C%20Walgreens%20began%20producing,cards%20with%20a%20complete%20makeover.
https://www.collectorplayingcards.com/2019/10/16/stud-playing-cards/
https://blackmarketdecks.com/products/stud?variant=31561835773986

I have an idea - are there any ZIP codes printed on the tuck box?  If so, it's definitively not from that long ago, as ZIP codes weren't developed until the early 1960s and weren't in widespread use until the early 1970s.

hi,don


The content posted on the wiki is just a volunteer compilation of preliminary information at the time, including rumors that were circulating in the industry. Why do you continue to worship the wiki's old information so much and deny the latest research? I don't understand.

When I was looking through American newspaper advertisements, I found traces of Lee Asher. I admired his dedication to research. I would love to hear his opinion.


My guess is that the STUD deck that Chuqii posted was acquired from a famous collector, not from the general marketplace such as ebay. A 1936 STUD should be as rare as a Radium Deck.

It's not a matter of worship - it's simply that this information is in contradiction to all other information I'd obtained to this point.  That doesn't mean my sources are right - just different.

[touya]

And here are the Spade courts, Ace and Joker.  See above post for all sides of tuck for 1936 Stud Playing Cards.

Hey, Chuqii, are you sure that those are from 1936?


Every source I've found listing a history of Stud Playing Cards says that Walgreens didn't start making them until 1980.


http://playingcards.wikidot.com/other-uspcc:stud
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/playing-cards/stud-playing-cards/#:~:text=In%201980%2C%20Walgreens%20began%20producing,cards%20with%20a%20complete%20makeover.
https://www.collectorplayingcards.com/2019/10/16/stud-playing-cards/
https://blackmarketdecks.com/products/stud?variant=31561835773986

I have an idea - are there any ZIP codes printed on the tuck box?  If so, it's definitively not from that long ago, as ZIP codes weren't developed until the early 1960s and weren't in widespread use until the early 1970s.

hi,don


The content posted on the wiki is just a volunteer compilation of preliminary information at the time, including rumors that were circulating in the industry. Why do you continue to worship the wiki's old information so much and deny the latest research? I don't understand.

When I was looking through American newspaper advertisements, I found traces of Lee Asher. I admired his dedication to research. I would love to hear his opinion.


My guess is that the STUD deck that Chuqii posted was acquired from a famous collector, not from the general marketplace such as ebay. A 1936 STUD should be as rare as a Radium Deck.

It's not a matter of worship - it's simply that this information is in contradiction to all other information I'd obtained to this point.  That doesn't mean my sources are right - just different.

I see.
If you think this doesn't fit with your past knowledge, please read this thread again to understand.

The information in this thread is the most current and accurate source of information.

The reason I researched the history of STUD was because I could not find the correct source of information anywhere. It was because there were many people in trouble because of it.

I have tried to summarize and publish the information quite carefully, but if you are not convinced, please collect STUDs from each period by yourself, verify them again, and make a decision.

[Chuqii]

Hey Don,

I think all of the newspaper advertising beginning from the 1930s conclusively establishes that Studs were a thing back in the 1930s.  Also, the 10 cent tax stamp is only from the 1930s. The large courts were only in use until 1954 at USPCC.  No zip codes on the deck as I showed all sides of the tuck.

[Don Boyer]

Hey Don,

I think all of the newspaper advertising beginning from the 1930s conclusively establishes that Studs were a thing back in the 1930s.  Also, the 10 cent tax stamp is only from the 1930s. The large courts were only in use until 1954 at USPCC.  No zip codes on the deck as I showed all sides of the tuck.

OK, I'm convinced - my old data is wrong.

[Chuqii]

Bit of a strange bar code here as it is missing the floating 7.  It's got the janky "R", so should be made by USPCC, maybe from 1980ish - 1986 before ARRCO then Hoyle made the decks?

[touya]

Bit of a strange bar code here as it is missing the floating 7.  It's got the janky "R", so should be made by USPCC, maybe from 1980ish - 1986 before ARRCO then Hoyle made the decks?

hi, Chuqii

I have identified the features of the STUD Deck in the image, and based on the shape of the case, I believe it is a STUD manufactured in 1989-1990.

The Blister package of the STUD Deck is available in early, mid, and late editions.

The STUD in the image is the mid-term version package, which was used from 1985 to 1989.

Originally, the mid-term version package was the package used during the period when ARRCO and HOYLE were producing, and the general view is that the later version package was used for those produced by the USPCC after 1989.

However, the way the case is folded, there is no doubt that it is a short flap case, so we can say that it was made after 1989.

I think it was made right after the transition from HOYLE to USPCC in 1989.

Thank you.

[touya]

Bit of a strange bar code here as it is missing the floating 7.  It's got the janky "R", so should be made by USPCC, maybe from 1980ish - 1986 before ARRCO then Hoyle made the decks?

Howard Card hired Ronald Rule as CEO in 1985. Rule made several changes to improve operations, including the elimination of excess inventory. The combination of inventory reduction and automation increased gross profit margins from 21% to 30%. Rule reduced the company's operating force by almost half and reorganized it to better serve casinos and retail chains.

At USPCC, skilled workers went on strike several times during 1985-1987. With the absence of skilled workers, production was carried out by part-time workers, resulting in lower quality and higher defect rates.

The reason why we can say this is true is because we investigated where the second products were distributed at that time.

Let's put that story aside,

STUD Deck had been a regularly produced brand for many years and had an overstocking problem. Therefore, we assume that the 1986 STUD Deck does not have a barcode because the priority was to get rid of the inventory.

Because of these factors, we expect that the number of "1986 STUDs" produced will be very small.

Cheers .

Touya.