Escalado 1920s Chad Valley

	Escalado first edition	1920s	Chad Valley
	First produced	1920s	Players		Age(s)

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1 x racetrack; a coated linen cloth 4' 3" long, 10" wide with three rows of wooden studs (with metal retaining pins on the reverse) to act as obstacles or fences for the horses to avoid or overcome. There are 7 of these studs in the first row, 6 in the middle row and 7 again in the last row
1 x dark green wooden vibrator box with green bakalite handle attached to one end of the race cloth
2 x adjustable metal clamps attached to the vibrator box which enable the box to be secured to the edge of a table top

2 x untearable perforated cloth tapes to link and adjust the race cloth to the wire clamps

2 x elastic bands to link the race cloth with the cloth tapes

2 x wire clamps to attach to a table opposite the vibrator box

5 x 3D painted lead metal alloy horses with jockeys holding whips, stored in a small plain cardboard box

1 x rules sheet stuck to the inside of the box lid

1 x stakes sheet


A horse racing game designed for parties and participants of all ages. It is a highly visual game; metal horses race along a linen track, their movement activated through vibration of the linen cloth which is stretched over a table top. The tension of the cloth combined with the mechanical winding of a special vibrator box causes the horses to move at random and varying speeds towards the finish line. Participants agree a betting process, minimum and maximum stakes, odds etc. at the beginning of the game and can use real money, tokens or matchsticks for placing bets. Five horses are positioned by the bookie to start at the far end of the track, positioned side by side so their hind legs are just touching the line at the end opposite the vibrator box. A nominated player then turns the vibrator box handle in the direction of the indicator arrow as quickly as possible but it helps to decide a close finish if the action is slowed down just as the leading horse's front legs near the finishing line. There may be only a fraction of an inch between first and second. If a horse falls over at one of the obstacles or fences, players should agree prior to the game whether to leave it on the track possibly to interfere with other horses or stop the race, remove the fallen horse and then recommence. The winner is the person with most money or wins at the end of the allocated number of races.

Compared with later editions, the horses are heavier (100g) and are ornately presented even showing the jockeys holding a whip, removed later. The rules state “If horses do not stand firmly on all four legs, just press them gently on the table until they do”. By the 1950s this advice was dropped. Perhaps the metal used in these early editions was more malleable (? higher lead content) or maybe there were complaints of damage. 'Copyright of the Proprietors' can be seen in raised lettering on the underside of the horses and 'England' on the inside of the front left leg. There is a colour drawing of a horse race on the box with the horses moving from right to left which is typical of early editions.

A horse racing game designed for parties and participants of all ages.

It is a highly visual game; metal horses race along a linen track, their movement activated through vibration of the linen cloth which is stretched over a table top. The tension of the cloth combined with the mechanical winding of a special vibrator box causes the horses to move at random and varying speeds towards the finish line. Participants agree a betting process, minimum and maximum stakes, odds etc. at the beginning of the game and can use real money, tokens or matchsticks for placing bets.

Five horses are positioned by the bookie to start at the far end of the track, positioned side by side so their hind legs are just touching the line at the end opposite the vibrator box. A nominated player then turns the vibrator box handle in the direction of the indicator arrow as quickly as possible but it helps to decide a close finish if the action is slowed down just as the leading horse's front legs near the finishing line. There may be only a fraction of an inch between first and second. If a horse falls over at one of the obstacles or fences, players should agree prior to the game whether to leave it on the track possibly to interfere with other horses or stop the race, remove the fallen horse and then recommence. The winner is the person with most money or wins at the end of the allocated number of races.

Compared with later editions, the horses are heavier (100g) and are ornately presented even showing the jockeys holding a whip, removed later. The rules state “If horses do not stand firmly on all four legs, just press them gently on the table until they do”. By the 1950s this advice was dropped. Perhaps the metal used in these early editions was more malleable (? higher lead content) or maybe there were complaints of damage. 'Copyright of the Proprietors' can be seen in raised lettering on the underside of the horses and 'England' on the inside of the front left leg. There is a colour drawing of a horse race on the box with the horses moving from right to left which is typical of early editions.