Escalado; English, 1955-1957

Escalado, 4pcs boxed; English, 1955-1957

Green plastisized linen 'race course' with a red wooden box at one end which has a turning handle, and at the other end two card perforated tabs; across the surface are 3 rows of yellow wooden posts. There are also two sets of wire and metal clamps to hold the 'course' to the table. The Equipment consists of four lead horses and jockeys (one is missing), which are housed in a preformed black plastic holder, and a staking sheet. The original box is made of card covered with red and gold paper, with a pictorial label. Rules are pasted to the inside of the lid.

Given by Major Charles Kirke.

Given by Charles Kirke in 1983 [83/1156]. Charles Kirke was born January 26, 1949. His mother worked in the toy department of Marshall & Snelgrove, many of the toys which he donated to us were given to him as Christmas presents between 1954 and 1962.

No. of Players: 4 or pairs
Equipment required: 2 sets of wire and metal clamps to hold the race course to a table top
4 lead horses and riders which are housed in a preformed black plastic holder (one is missing)
staking sheet

Rules: DIRECTIONS FOR FIXING

Unroll the linen race course and fasten the box end of it to one end of a dining table (from which the cloth as been removed), by means of the screw clamps. At the end of the table slip on the wire clamps the same distance apart as the width of the race course, on to which the untearable perforated tapes fit.
See that the square block under the handle moves freely in the rectangular slot, and that the race course and housing are in a perfectly straight line.
Employ as little tension as possible. Do not fold the cloth, creases prevent the horses running properly.
Place the horses on the track with their hind legs touching the sewn end, and turn the handle at the opposite end of the race course, when the horses will be found to move forward. The correct tension will be quickly found by tightening or lossening the elastic springs by means of the perforated tapes, which allow the game to be played on a table of any length. If played on a table of exceptional length and the perforated tapes will not reach the wire clamps, a pieces of string fastened into the last hole of each tape and looped round the clamp will overcome the difficulty.

RULES OF THE GAME

The horses having been placed in a straight line, players should stake on which ever one they fancy, one of the players acting as Banker, and should offer odds of:- with 5 horses running 4-1, and so on, the staking sheet being placed at the starting end of the track. Should a horse fall over a fence, the player turning the handle (who should not watch the race, and if necessary be blindfolded) must slop and have it removed from the sosurce and then continue the race.
The horse which first passes the finishing line is the winner.

SWEEPSTAKES

Players each pay an agreed number of chips into a pool and toss for the choice of horse and position; the winning horse takes half the pool, the second two thirds of what is left, and the third horse the balance. In the event of three horses not finishing the course, the winner still takes half the pool, the unclaimed share or shares being added to the next race.
Onlookers if they so wish, may back any respective horse, or horses; one of the onlookers should act as Banker.
Other methods of determining the odds will occur to players. Should, for example, one particular horse will more frequently than others, the odds against it should be reduced.

chad valley & co., ltd.

MISC.138-1983