Trench art timber roulette wheel with Rising Sun badge

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c. 1915 - 1945

Overview

Trench art timber roulette wheel encased within a turned, custom-made bowl with lid. A Rising Sun badge is affixed to the outside of the lid and there is evidence that something else was also secured there, but is now missing. Judging from the shape, it was likely to have been an 'Australia' metal shoulder title.
The bottom section of the turned casing has a central tapered spike, while the roulette wheel has a corresponding hole. When fitted together, this facilitates the turning of the wheel. There is a central timber upright knob which can be held onto to spin the wheel.
The wheel itself is painted with the traditional colours of alternating red and black grooves with white numbers. The wheel is concave, allowing the ball to fall and settle into the grooves.
A small metal ball bearing fits into the circular slots.that are drilled around the centre to designate which number has been landed upon.
The number '50' has been written onto several pieces of the item, possibly indicating that many were made and these pieces were specific to an individual set.
The exterior timber has been lacquered.

Historical information

Gambling was a popular leisure pastime of Australian servicemen. Portable games sucha as this roulette wheel were highly popular among soldiers. They provided a compact, durable, and weather-resistant entertainment option that could easily be played in trenches, camps, or transport ships to pass the time. Other games including two-up, Housey-housey, Crown and Anchor, poker, and dominoes were all played and examples of each are found in the collection.

The Rising Sun badge on the lid is of the third pattern which was the emblem for the 1st and 2nd Australian Imperial Forces from 1904-1949. It is therefore not possible to be absolutely certain when it was produced.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW01046

Item type

Artefacts

Collectibles

Personal Effects

Souvenirs

Woodcraft

Themes

Leisure

Social History