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Thanks Chuqii.
I made it to the search page before but the searches were bringing up many broken images. I'll try it again tomorrow with a different browser.

I enjoy this KEM thread.

Came across this deck on ebay. I'd never seen the back before, so I scooped it up. Also, I'd never seen a KEM deck with Brown & Bigelow branding on it.

By the partial tax stamp, I place it between 1940 and 1964, but after that things get fuzzy. The "Keep Your Kem Cards CLEAN" card mirrors the text and format of the earliest KEM Playing Cards, Inc. decks from 1935-1937 (see last pic), but they changed the format a bit and squeezed in Brown & Bigelow Remembrance Advertising on the bottom. Also uses the "KEM Playing Cards, Inc." company name in the copyright, but that name was not in use after 1937. I am sorely tempted to open it up and check the Ace of Spades to get the date of the deck. My guess is early 40s.

Anyone have any theories about this deck and how KEM and Brown & Bigelow would have been working together?

Curiosity got the better of me, so I went ahead and opened the deck. Given that the cards were a bit out of order, I'm guessing I was not the first to open it.

The Ace was no help, since it has no date, but it is the first KEM Ace i've seen with Brown & Bigelow stamped on it. The deck also has considerable red ink transfer and bleed - you can see how the red ink bled through on the King of Spades.

As far as I know, the red ink bleed was only as issue on the earliest KEM decks. And as Don Boyer pointed out over at The Playing Card Forum, companies like to be sure their correct name is on the decks. So the KEM PLAYING CARDS, Inc. would signal between 1935 and 1937 which is consistent with the ink bleed.

The decks with no date codes are 1935-36. Two and weird three digit codes are 1936-1939 in MMY (last digit of the year, preceded by one month digit except for 10=October, 11=November & 12=December. In January 1940, they started using a "normal" MYY three digit code for January through September or MMYY four digit code for October to December decks. I have seen a few 36 & 37 decks with single and two digit codes that I have no clue what they mean, and a few that just make no sense and don't fit this pattern at all, some with a single letter instead of all numeric.

I've been running out of pre-WWII KEMs to collect, so I'm dabbling in other decks. Here's a great condition double deck set of Eagle 5 bridge cards sealed with tax stamps, circa 1939. Check out those awesome eagles.

I also picked up a set of the miniature cadets, c.1920 (I think).

I was able to pick up a few more 1st generation KEM Neillite card boxes - Seascape and two versions of Cameo.

Also picked up these DALE plastic playing cards at the local antique mall. Never heard of them before. These are from late-50s, early-60s.

Thanks for all of the info on KEM decks.

That's also a really nice find on the Eagle set!

Well, finally was able to get my hands on a set of the WWII miniature KEMs, date code C1041, with a well-worn leather pouch. Also stumbled across a variant of the 1943 cardboard KEM box - a 1942 cardboard box with just the elongated KEM logo with no crown. Has a pristine set of Gamecock decks, date code C342. Enjoy.

Harder and harder to find old KEM cards that I don't yet have, but here are a couple.

A double set of Gold Band cards in the original box. First time I've ever seen the blue deck of these. The Gold Band deck was only made in 1935, and was one of the original 4 KEM designs. Just love that clean Ace of Spades with just "KEM Playing Cards".
And a set of the 1939 New York World's Fair cards from KEM. The cards are stuck together and in terrible shape, but I'd never seen the case with the 1939 World's Fair emblem still intact.

Wow, I've been collecting World's Fair decks and I haven't seen these before!

Here are some non-KEMs from my collection. This box set of WWII Hamilton's c1945 just arrived.

Old school. Capitol No. 188, Panel back and Music back. Look great for 1898 (ish)

and some more not quite as old

Extra Congress Frog Back

Thanks to Jock1971 for help in identifying these decks.

American Playing Card Company, c1900 There is a joker with the same design on the ace of spades in Hochman's (L72)

Here' the joker from Hochman's. (L72)

Chuqii wrote:Thanks to Jock1971 for help in identifying these decks.

for what little i did...i`m glad to help out.

Thats a nice frog back on those extra congress

Got my first pre-1950 Bicycle tucks and cards recently.

... and some more antiques

American PCC Golf deck American PCC Steamboat? deck National Card Co Apollo deck, Music back

Trophy Whist No. 39 Arabian back with the new courts c. 1895

Canary cards from NYCCC in a neat faux book case with mini-poker chips, c 1910. Spine of the "book" reads "History of Four Queens"

Great posts Chuqii

Do you know if the different size indices on the A.P.C.C decks are indication of age or did they use different sizes simultaneously.
i see you don`t show tucks for some of your decks . do you have them or do you not mind if the decks don`t have them?

Not sure on the size of the indices. The Steamboat? deck was a cheaper deck with lower quality printing, so that might account for it.

Trust me, if I had the tuck (or the joker), I'd post it. But no tuck / no joker is ok for me.

These just came in.

Perfection Playing Card Co. - New York - 1890s - Cool back design with the integrated fish hooks and scales. Check out company name on the boat

USPC Skat No.2 deck with tuck

This is my first no index deck. Awfully nice. Don't know if the box is original to the deck or not. Also, anyone know what the "BC" or "CB" stands for on the cards? Back of tuck says these were "Manufactured Expressly for CLUBS", so maybe a club name? Anyway, enjoy.

Now ...those are some sweet decks you got there Chuqii
The Skat deck is cool, i have the Gaigel version with the same back design but no tuck

But that pre indicator deck is something else..nice find
I`m not a big American deck collector ....but that is one pack i`d love to have in my collection
i don`t know about the back i`m afraid, but the tuck box is original to the deck.