Punchboard or Punch Card Printing Block Lucky Ben

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In the old days, this would have been called a printer's block, but more specifically, this is a piece used to print punchboards.  Colorful, poster-size games of chance once popular in taverns.  Actually, anywhere a crook could make a buck.  A player would purchase a chance, then punch the board to see if their rolled up number inside awarded a prize.  They are illegal now for the most part.  Guess who got his start in organized crime peddling "chances" in this rigged game?  A very young Jack Ruby.  Mob-run punchboards in Chicago. 

Lucky Ben Punchboard Printing Block  Circa 1940 or so.  Collection Jim Linderman

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