What’s the deal with Paulson textured inlay vs non-textured inlays? (1 Viewer)

[upNdown]

I’ve seen this acknowledged before, but never explained. I think it only applies to THC molds; I’ve never seen a textured inlay on an RHC chip, but I could be wrong.
Why is it that some THC chips have textured inlays, and some do not? Isn’t the texture a feature of the mold itself - that is to say, doesn’t the inlay become textured as it’s smahed together in textured cups?
And the follow up question is, is Paulson still making textured inlay chips? I can’t confirm this, but my anectdotal experience suggests that all recently produced THC chips (the Cleveland Horseshoe $1’s come to mind) have smooth inlays, and that the chips with textured inlays are all older ones.

I don’t think this is a SCV vs LCV issue, because the 4 chips pictured here are all SCV, but the Jerry’s chip has an inlay that is smooth as a baby’s bottom. And it is a live chip. Of course, the Tunica Horshoe chip is also live, and definitely textured, though I have no idea if this was produced in 1995 or last year. I suppose it is my lone hope, since it’s the only live chip I have with a textured inlay. But my collection isn’t the most robust so there could be lots of them.
So what gives, are they still making chips with textured inlays?

 

[Psypher1000]

I’ve never seen a textured inlay on an RHC chip, but I could be wrong.

You've never seen/handled a PCA $1 chip then.

 

[upNdown]

You've never seen/handled a PCA $1 chip then.

Not a singe one.
Those RHC ones have textured inlays?

 

[Psypher1000]

Not a singe one.
Those RHC ones have textured inlays?

The ones I own do. I only own singles, mind you, but the fact that I own some means that they're out there.

 

[bentax1978]

Not a singe one.
Those RHC ones have textured inlays?

They do. Can't say I know of any others off-hand, but I'm guessing PCA ones aren't the only example.

 

[upNdown]

So that adds another wrinkle to the issue. I guess this means they have some textured molds and some non-textured molds of each variety? But those chips are pretty old too. It doesn’t answer the question whether they’re still producing (or offering) textured inlay chips.

 

[Drumhoss]

not that this helps but here are some pics.

 

[churlbut18]

Interested in this answer as well. In fact, when deciding between the PCA Secondary $1 vs the Terrible’s St. Joe Primary $1 for my mixed set, I chose PCA and a big part of that choice was the textured inlays on the PCA vs smooth on the Terrible’s.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Perhaps it's simply an option at manufacture. Just a guess, but Gear has both textured and non-textured laminates, so it could be possible that it's just the top layer of the inlay that is smooth or textured (as opposed to CPC where it is a function of the mold).

...and by option, I don't necessarily think it's a choice by the recipient placing the order. Paulson may use different laminates from different suppliers.


Just guessing though.

 

[GoStumpy]

I would assume the inlay would be smooth or textured before compression, and the compression isn't enough to smooth out a textured inlay, so it stays textured.

 

[grantc54]

My Crown casino RHC chips have textured inlays.

Grant

 

[BGinGA]

I would assume the inlay would be smooth or textured before compression, and the compression isn't enough to smooth out a textured inlay, so it stays textured.

Nope. All inlays are basically 'smooth' in nature, made of either paper, linen, or vinyl, depending upon when they were produced and for whom. The texture is a function of the machined mold surface and the protective laminate.... although GPI doesn't use a textured laminate.

Not long after the introduction of the RHC mold (and around the time of transition to GPI), they stopped making chips with textured inlays -- which unfortunately, also coincided with the end of chips with real shaped die-cut inlays.

Chips started being produced with a thin plastic laminate layer added to the inlay (presumably for protection), which means that either:
a) the new laminate resists textured mold markings from making an impression in the finished product, or
b) they started using new molds without any texture in the inlay area so that the protective laminate could be used.

I'm guessing the latter, as non-textured molds would be less expensive to produce, and the laminate is a cheap way to extend chip inlay life and protect underlying security features (many of which were also starting to be developed around that same time). RFID, microdot, UV markings, etc. all benefit (and may only be possible, in some cases) with the use of a protective laminate layer.

Regardless, no more new Paulson clay chips with textured inlays...... or true shaped inlays.

 

[ovo]

really miss the shaped inlay

 

[upNdown]

Thanks @BGinGA for the answer that I suspected, but didn’t want to hear. This sort of seals my fate that I have very little interest in chips being currently produced by Paulson or produced within the last 10 or 15 years. I just can’t love chips with the glossy inlays, they feel cheap to me. I had some of the mint horseshoe Cleveland secondarys, and they’re nice chips, but they don’t do it for me. Same goes for those Jerry’s Nugget chips pictured above.
I’m doomed to pay A LOT for any Pausons I buy in the future.

 

[superchromix]

Nope. All inlays are basically 'smooth' in nature, made of either paper, linen, or vinyl, depending upon when they were produced and for whom. The texture is a function of the machined mold surface and the protective laminate.... although GPI doesn't use a textured laminate.

Not long after the introduction of the RHC mold (and around the time of transition to GPI), they stopped making chips with textured inlays -- which unfortunately, also coincided with the end of chips with real shaped die-cut inlays.

Chips started being produced with a thin plastic laminate layer added to the inlay (presumably for protection), which means that either:
a) the new laminate resists textured mold markings from making an impression in the finished product, or
b) they started using new molds without any texture in the inlay area so that the protective laminate could be used.

I'm guessing the latter, as non-textured molds would be less expensive to produce, and the laminate is a cheap way to extend chip inlay life and protect underlying security features (many of which were also starting to be developed around that same time). RFID, microdot, UV markings, etc. all benefit (and may only be possible, in some cases) with the use of a protective laminate layer.

Regardless, no more new Paulson clay chips with textured inlays...... or true shaped inlays.

Note that this means there are a lot of THC mold cups with textured surfaces, sitting somewhere, unused and alone, on a shelf.

 

[BGinGA]

More likely converted to cash via scrap metal sale.