'Electrical Mah Jong' card game, 1924

Card game, 'Electrical Mah Jong', manufactured by Thomas De La Rue for Western Electric Co. Ltd, a souvenir of the 1924 British Empire Exhibition, Wembley, London

'Electrical Mah Jong' card game, manufactured by Thomas De La Rue for Western Electric Co. Ltd, made in London as a souvenir for the 1924 British Empire Exhibition.

The game consists of 154 gold-edged printed playing cards showing various electrical items such as radios, cables and telephones made by the Western Electric Company and of the period from 1875 to 1924. The real-life historic electrical objects depicted were also on display at the Western Electric Company display at the 1924 British Empire Exhibition, Wembley, London.

A “The Pocket Guide to Electrical Mah Jong” pamphlet dated 1924 accompanied the game with the rear page reading:

“When you pause to consider that over half of the Telephones in use in the world to-day have been manufactured by the Western Electric Company, you will realise the contribution this Company has made to the advancement of International Communications.

The development and supply of magneto, central battery and automatic telephone equipments [sic] – repeater stations and loading coils – power and telephone cables – wireless transmitting and receiving apparatus – represent a long line of Western Electric achievements over a period of over 50 years.”

Suits symbols are Phones (P), Radio Valves (R) and Cables (C). Winds are East, South, West, and North. Dragon Cards are Arial (Red), Earth (Green), and Ether (White). Red Honour Cards are Periods - 1875, 1898, 1918, and 1924. Green Honour Cards are Symbols - Western Electric Company Limited London, WEC, Quality First Cables and Telephones, and Western Electric Modern Domestic.