THE PLYMOUTH ROCK GELATINE CO. BICYCLE GAME
The Plymouth Rock Gelatine Co., USA, 1890s

 

This is a small (25 x 22 cm) old promotional or premium game for the Plymouth Rock Gelatine Co. It is printed on light cardboard (or heavy paper, as you chose to see it) and has an ad printed on the back (see below).

 

It is a simple but otherwise cute track cycling game that at some time must have included a spinner (and probably also some counters).

When I first wrote this review, I chanced to say, "I would bet it is a six-sided spinner. A die will (have to) do". Since then I have learnt that it actually was a five-sided spinner and that the counters were made of cardboard (see below). You can't always be right.

Typical end-of-century riders.

The Plymouth Rock Gelatine Co. patented its Phosphated Gelatin in 1889 and subsequently made an important advertisement campaign, if we judge by the various pieces of memorabilia we find in a quick web search. As far as I can tell, the gelatine is still available today, though not easy to find. Of course, this game is still harder to find.

 

Ad on the back of the board.

The Boston Sunday Globe offered a similar game as a bonus. Sorry for the poor picture. According to my notes, it was dated in 1895, but I cannot find where I obtained the information (and the picture) or whether the information was correct in the first place. However, it is plausible. Of course, here is where I found out that the teetotum had five sides.
 

Thanks to Raisubidesu for the tip leading to this one.

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