Samuel's Smoke House operated at least seven different retail cigar stores in the Fresno area in the 1920s and 1930s (see Archive). The address listed is that of their headquarters.
Samuel's most likely ordered these Crest & Seal and Hub mold chips from the USPC Co. and the Mason Co. for some of their customers, as they had for the "Sequoia Club". It is also possible that some chips were used for back room gambling at some of their retail locations. Cigar stores were a common location for illegal card rooms during this time period.
Advertisement from 8/27/1923 (The Fresno Bee). |