Put And Take (Put n Take) History
Put and take was a game that first became known during the First World War (1914-18)# The full history of the game is unclear but It is thought to have been invented by a soldier in the trenches. The original game was made from a brass bullet that the soldier shaped into a spinning top with six sides. Each side had an instruction on that was either Put one, Put two, Put all, Take one ,Take Two, or Take all. The top was spun by players, who each put an ante in the pot ( said to be a cigarette), and depending on how the top fell either took or put how many cigarettes indicated.
The game became so popular that during the 1920-30s it was introduced as a gambling Game and was predominantly played in the North of England in Working mens clubs and pubs. Because the top would last virtually forever, being made of brass, the production of the game did not last for long and during the next 40 years the playing of the game gradually died out.
I became aware of the game as my father inherited a Put and take from his father who came from Warrington. We played the game as children for sweets but my father was forever having people from our local pub knocking on our door to borrow the Put and Take ,to play in the Pub. He used to charge them the price of a pint for them to use it. During those years I saw some very serious gambling with that Put and Take and some very heavy money passing hands. When I retired I though that I would try and make a Put and Take for some friends. They were so happy with it I made another, and it became a hobby. I still had my dad.s original one to base them on.
Some time ago I put a Put and Take on an online auction just to see if anyone would be intrested and was amazed to see how much it made. I put others on at a set price, giving me a small profit, and they were all snapped up mostly going to the USA. I actually sold one to a lady who collected them. I was so impressed with her collection that I gave her my dad.s one to add to her collection (See photos of that collection).
I Have created this website to give anybody who is intrested a little history of the game and if they want, to purchase one.
The game is made of solid brass and comes with a set of rules and some plastic counters that you can play with.