Escalado 1960s / pre decimal 1970s Chad Valley

	Escalado	pre decimal ?1970s or ?1960s	Chad Valley
	First produced	1920s	Players		Age(s)

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1 x racetrack; matt green linen cloth 4' 3"long and 10" wide with three rows of plastic studs to act as obstacles 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 red plastic vibrator box with plastic handle attached to one end of the race cloth
1 x elastic tension cord attached at the end of the race cloth

2 x metal screw clamps which slot into the plastic vibrator box and secure the box to one end of a table

1 x C shaped metal clip with plastic strap and buckle

5 x 3D painted metal alloy horses with riders

1 x rules sheet printed on the inside of the box lid

1 x illustrated sheet showing the setup of the game

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.

The effectiveness of the vibrating track was much better with the heavier metal alloy horses and linen tracks. However each horse weighs just 50g compared to 80g or more in earlier editions. The vibrator box is now made from plastic. The rules printed on the inside of the box lid are very clear and detailed giving practical advice, such as overcoming problems if tables are not large enough, procedures for offering odds, betting and arranging sweepstakes and care of the equipment. The illustration of the game is very easy to follow. Quoted from the rules; “Spare parts may be obtained from the Chad Valley Company, Harborne, Birmingham as follows; Horses (state colour) 3/- each, Rubber Stretchers 8d each, Clip with Strap 1/6 each." Clearly pre 1971 decimalisation.

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.

The effectiveness of the vibrating track was much better with the heavier metal alloy horses and linen tracks. However each horse weighs just 50g compared to 80g or more in earlier editions. The vibrator box is now made from plastic. The rules printed on the inside of the box lid are very clear and detailed giving practical advice, such as overcoming problems if tables are not large enough, procedures for offering odds, betting and arranging sweepstakes and care of the equipment. The illustration of the game is very easy to follow.

Quoted from the rules; “Spare parts may be obtained from the Chad Valley Company, Harborne, Birmingham as follows; Horses (state colour) 3/- each, Rubber Stretchers 8d each, Clip with Strap 1/6 each."

Clearly pre 1971 decimalisation.