Arrco Playing Card Company

The ARRCO Playing Card Company was started in 1927 (or 1930) in Chicago and was independent until 1987 when it was purchased by USPC. ARRCO started as Arrow Playing Card Company by Theodore Regensteiner, who also invented the four-color lithograph press. In 1935, it became ARRCO and became a national leader in quality playing cards. ARRCO cards were a major brand into the 1980s when it was folded into USPC.

When Arrow / Arrco started operations it was not quite a threat to the established United States Playing Card Co. of Cincinnati (makers of the Bicycle brand), the Chicago upstart eventually gained a loyal following of its own, thanks in no small part to the company’s high-quality card stock and elegant graphics in blue and red. These design features were hardly stumbled upon by accident. Arrco was, from its very beginnings, a subsidiary operation of Chicago’s esteemed Regensteiner Corporation—a major colortype printing firm led by the inventor of the four-color lithograph press, Theodore Regensteiner.

More info at

https://www.amusedbyjokersami.com/2020/12/narrow-playing-card-jokers-arrco-arrow.html

https://www.madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/arrco-playing-card-co/

https://playingcarddecks.com/blogs/all-in/the-iconic-arrco-playing-cards

https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=672542

https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/89470/iconic-arrco-playing-cards