Not Really a Spencer Thread, but . . .

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

Quite a few years ago, can't remember exactly when, I was visiting a number of antique gun auction sites looking for a Spencer Carbine to buy (this is how I justify posting this thread ).

As I went through page after page on one of these auction sites, and I can't remember which one it was, I came across a very curious item for sale.  The Seller found this item stashed away in an old building he had purchased years before.  He was going through the contents of the building, and buried under a lot of debris and dirt was this antique gambling item that had been used in a Nevada saloon in the Old West.

I'm pretty sure these are  photos of the gambling unit I was looking at . . . 









I was actually interested in buying it so I contacted the Seller.  My interest quickly disappeared when the Seller suggested that an opening bid was $1700.00.
Anyway, the gambling unit had a name - Sapo - or as it was more commonly known, the Frog Game.

So, the other day I decided to make my very own Sapo Game.  I didn't have any plans or blueprints to go by, just those old photos from the auction site.  Then I discovered that the Sapo or Frog Game was, and still is, very popular in Latin America, and Europe, especially in Spain, France, and Belgium.  I found more photos of the Sapo Game showing different styles of the game. 

This is my almost completed Sapo Game.  It still needs to be colored in some way and I need to add the points or numbers so you can determine your score while playing the game.










This is just two samples of the available Sapo Games.   Apparently, this game was a gambling option other than playing card games for Cowboys in the Old West.



If you visit this web site, it shows different ways of playing the Sapo Frog Game.
https://www.sapo-usa.com/how-to-play/

[Major 2]

Very interesting  I decided to investigate further

Seems Amazon has cast iron parts 
https://www.amazon.com/Accessories-Gambling-Traditional-autochthonous-Regional/dp/B00IPO764G?ref_=ast_sto_dp


Video how it is played
https://www.amazon.com/stores/CADENAS/page/BF5C4DE6-3E8A-48B2-AB6B-2EA7755FE957?ref_=ast_bln

[Two Flints]

Major 2,

That's where I purchased my Frog items, through Amazon, the company is located in Spain, but Amazon has the items in stock.  I've been in contact with the home office in Spain.  They only make a smaller, portable Sap Game for $100.00, I believe.

Thanks for the links for others to see.

Two Flints

[Major 2]

I'm intrigued, thinking of one my self

I'd like to do one in rustic flavor ...I see many cabinet options & ideas

[Two Flints]

I was going to use rough cut cedar boards to make mine, but pine seemed easier to cut and work with . . . trying to decide on stain to use . . . if you do a Google search "Sapo Frog Game Photos or Images" you will get lots of ideas showing different versions of the Sap Game . . . the angles took some doing on my part, as I am not a carpenter!  Plans to make one don't seem to be available online.

Two Flints

[Major 2]

I'm leaning towards this drawer design ... 

[Coal Creek Griff]

I'd never heard of those. They're really cool -- keep us updated.

CC Griff

[Major 2]

somehow seems a natural  at a shoot in some sort of  gambling stage format.

I notice the tops vary in hole counts

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

Well I finished my first Sapo Game . . . unless I make more changes.  I tried to stain it using an "old fashioned walnut" so it would look like the original Sapo Game I posted at the beginning of this thread.  I even started a second Sapo Game with some modifications on the internal measurements.

Major2 how is yours coming along?  Post photos if you make one.

Two Flints

[Black River Smith]

OK, I have been watching this since the beginning.  You have built a very nice copy of an old time gambling machine/game.

But I don't get how it worked or paid out or how the house got money.  I understand the respective front holes drop to the first line and then so on and the frog counts the most.  The house maybe got all the coins that did not drop.  But what was thrown at the holes and then from how far back?  Was it a points game between players or against a house number.  What was the pay-out, certainly not 2000 or 4000 coins of equivalent value as thrown (unless pennies were used)?

Any ideal how to play?

[Two Flints]

This is the official version of how to play the Sapo Game.  I copied these instructions from the Zappogame.com web site.





There is also this web site - https://www.sapo-usa.com/how-to-play/ .  They offer other ways to play the Sapo/Frog Game.  Just go to the link.

I tend to think it was modified by the Cowboys, or saloon owners, who played it in Old West Saloons.  They probably wanted quick results after betting their money so a faster way to find out who was the winner may have been how the game was played.

The way I'd play the Sapo/Frog Game is this way:  Each player gets 10 coins.  They toss the ten coins and the player who scores the highest number of points wins all the money that was bet before the game was started.  I still have to add the point numbers at each of the chute openings.

Two Flints

[Major 2]

Hello SSS,

Well I finished my first Sapo Game . . . unless I make more changes.  I tried to stain it using an "old fashioned walnut" so it would look like the original Sapo Game I posted at the beginning of this thread.  I even started a second Sapo Game with some modifications on the internal measurements.

Major2 how is yours coming along?  Post photos if you make one.

Two Flints

Very nice,  it looks superb ...haven't started one yet,  all my wood working equipment is in the shop at my shuttered work 20.

I do have a miter saw & router at home , but I'll wait till we reopen for Business.

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

Well, I finally finished my Sapo/Frog Game.  I added the numbers to indicate points scored at each chute.  Maybe the numbers are bigger then they had to be at 2 1/2" in height.  As you can see in my photo, I started a second Sapo/Frog Game.

Thanks for looking.

Two Flints



The top of the finished Sapo/Frog Game.

[Black River Smith]

As stated before vey nice job on building a vintage game.

Thanks for the directions..

Hope you have lots of fun with your friends.

[spyder]

Very cool!  I'd never heard of this before, but this is awesome.

What are the spinner holes? Are they the lowest scoring?

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

I made another change to my Frog Game.  I removed the numbers that I thought were too big at 2 ½" and replaced them with smaller numbers, which are 1 5/8".

Just to explain my scoring system: If you throw a coin into the frog's mouth that's worth 100 points.  Under the  bridges and into the hole that gets you 60 points, and if you can manage to toss a coin onto one of the mill shelves, and the coin drops into the opening, your score is 80 points.