Whats the significance of the Monopoly playing pieces?
Dear Straight Dope: Car, dog, wheelbarrow, shoe, hat–what is the significance of the game pieces in a Monopoly set? — Joe Here’s the official line straight from Hasbro, current copyright holder for Monopoly: With the tokens serving as such an important part of the MONOPOLY game experience, it’s hard to imagine the game without them. However, the first game produced in 1935 did not include tokens. Charles Darrow, who originally brought the game to Parker Brothers, recommended that players use household items like buttons and pennies to move around the board. Parker Brothers decided to include mover-tokens in the game. The edition produced from 1935-36 included four small wax wood pieces, or pawns. In 1937 Parker Brothers, determined to preserve the game”s tradition, decided to produce die-cast metal tokens that were reminiscent of objects found in households across America. This decision marked the introduction of the flatiron, purse, lantern, car, thimble, shoe, top hat, and the rock
