1.57" = 39.88mm
Without delving into deep research, it appears that Paulson started manufacturing 43mm clays sometime in the late 1980s (the Dunes house mold 43mm chips and Aladdin's IHC and house mold 43mm chips were all issued in 1989). By the early 1990s, 43mm chips were becoming pretty common in many new casino chip racks, typically for $1000 and $5000 denominations but occasionally as tournament chips.
I dd not research when Paulson's larger 47mm, 48mm, or 50mm clays first appeared, but I think it's safe to say that the 43mm chips appeared first.
I also did not research the timeline for ASM 44mm chips, or the for the wide variety of non-39mm jeton sizes offered by B&G. Most inexpensive plastic chips produced in China were initially 40mm, and many still remain so today.
Any thoughts on why Paulson decided to begin making these?
Their main utility in a casino context (it seems to me) is to set very high-denoms of $500+ apart from the rest… thus reducing errors throughout the casino, making it harder to lose a high-value chip, and easier to spot these both at the table, in the cage and on camera. But those are just theories.
My first instinct is that they were asked by one or more of their Vegas casino customers to provide larger-size cash checks -- either for increased visibility, security, or exclusitivity (or perhaps all three). Paulson likely shopped the idea around to their customer base to determine interest before committing to the larger scale molds and required supporting equipment.Any thoughts on why Paulson decided to begin making these?
I know with the dunes, the 43s were baccarat chips. If those were actually the first, that seems significant. Dunes wanted different chips on their baccarat tables. I have no idea why; I don’t know anything about casino operations.My first instinct is that they were asked by one or more of their Vegas casino customers to provide larger-size cash checks -- either for increased visibility, security, or exclusitivity (or perhaps all three). Paulson likely shopped the idea around to their customer base to determine interest before committing to the larger scale molds and required supporting equipment.
There is nothing in the historical record (to my knowledge) to indicate that something like this would have been conceived by Paulson alone during that time period as a new potential market or sales approach.
Just realized I never answered the OP's question. Having owned and played with many different set configurations:Just watched an episode of Super High Stakes Poker at The Lodge and it was apparent they all had 43mm chips. I gotta be honest they looked delicious to shuffle and stack. I've never played with all 43mm chips only higher denoms. What are your experiences playing with 43mm chips in your home sets vs 39mm? Pros & Cons.
Is it common for cash games to be 2 different sizes?Just realized I never answered the OP's question. Having owned and played with many different set configurations:
My overwhelming personal preference is to play tournaments with a set containing chips consisting of a uniform single size. 39mm vs 43mm really doesn't matter, so long as they are all the same size (maybe a slight bias to 43mm, but not overly so). However, I dislike all-36mm sets (too small), and I dislike all-47mm, all-48mm and all-50mm sets (too big).
And while tournament sets containing a few highest-denomination plaques are acceptable to me, I'm much less receptive if those few high-denoms are oversize chips. The balance of sets containing multiple chip sizes just seems off. However, having oversize specialty chips (Bounty, Re-Buy, etc.) is perfectly fine with me, perhaps even preferred, as it visually sets apart the non-value chips from the chips in play.
For cash sets, mixed sizes are less of a concern to me (as a player). I suspect it's because the bigger chips/denoms in cash games are mostly value-holders, and are typically set aside and not used for most actual play.