It is becoming increasingly more popular to bring the family together around a board game. In fact, sales of board games have risen by 40% in the last few years, proving they still come up trumps as a way to have fun.
Many family favourites such as Monopoly, Cluedo and Checkers have had a makeover for today’s modern players. But as the vintage and retro trend continues to inspire fashion, cars and lifestyles, vintage board games have also become desirable. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a lot of the original board games were bingo-inspired games. Nowadays, most people prefer to play bingo for cash online, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also have some fun playing retro bingo board games. Here are some bargain finds that the whole family can enjoy.
1.
Back in the 1960s there was no online bingo. Instead you had Spears’ Games Lotto! The classic game includes 24 lotto cards, 90 plastic number pieces, a dark blue cloth bag, cardboard number covers and a lotto checking table, this version of the famous number calling game is still in pretty good condition. And you can pick it up for $7.99
Source: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/253724195/spears-games-lotto-vintage-bingo-game
2.
Another 60s piece find, this unusual looking bingo board was likely rescued from a bingo hall so it’s a genuine piece of gaming history! Each number has a shutter which opens and closes, presumably for players to reveal and check off the numbers. This makes a brilliant piece of interior design and a talking point for your home.
Source: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/254367897/vintage-bingo-board-2
3.
Before plastic became the main material for mass produced items, bingo markers were made out of wood. The numbers were carved into the wood and painted a vibrant colour; usually red.
Source: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/450864340/one-hundred-vintage-wooden-bingo-lotto
These markers would have been placed on top of bingo cards until someone reached their total and yelled BINGO!
4.
Another variation of the traditional bingo game, this vowel version also hails from the 1960s. This phonics games was created to help children hear, read and understand correlating vowels whilst playing with symbols.
Source: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/246509013/vintage-vowel-lotto-dolch-bingo-board
This game was inspired by the ‘Edward Dolch word list’ – a list of frequently used English whole words and designed to help children begin reading.
Other methods of teaching children how to read are now more prominent, but this game is beautifully designed and could be transformed into various craft projects.
