Starting with the purchase of the Cincinnati Enquirer’s job printing rooms in 1867, they quickly expanded their operations, culminating in the establishment of a modern playing card plant in the early 1880s.
Their company, Russell, Morgan & Co., revolutionized playing card manufacturing with the introduction of advanced machinery, including a precision card-punching machine. By 1881, they produced their first pack of cards. In 1885, Bicycle Playing Cards had their first printing, and to this day are the most popular and bestselling playing cards in the world. Russell and Morgan’s relentless innovation and expansion led to the formation of The United States Playing Card Company in 1894, securing their position as leaders in the industry.
A.O. Russell was a visionary entrepreneur who saw potential in the playing card market despite the dominance of established eastern US manufacturers. His proposal in 1880 to enter the playing card business marked a pivotal moment for Russell, Morgan & Co. Under his leadership, the company implemented state-of-the-art equipment and processes, setting new standards in the industry.
Russell's forward-thinking approach and commitment to quality helped the company grow from a modest operation to a major player capable of producing 30,000 decks per day within just a few years.
Robert J. Morgan played a crucial role in the early success and growth of Russell, Morgan & Co. As a co-founder and active supervisor, Morgan was instrumental in the expansion and operational efficiency of the company.
As the first pack of cards came off the line, Morgan handed them to Russell and famously said “That pack of cards cost $35,000 dollars!”
