Contack (1939)

CONTACK is a game played with 36 triangular pieces. The 3 sides of each triangle are different in colour, and each side has a number printed at its edge. These numbers run from 1 to 10.

Players try, by matching colour and number, or matching colour and making certain score totals, to play all the triangles from their hand and to make as large a score as possible.

Additional information regarding the game: The game was first introduced by the Volume Sprayer Mfg. Co. Of Tulsa Oklahoma in early 1939 and then was re-introduced by a number of companies including the ones mentioned above and also by Parker Brothers later on that same year.

The game dates back at least to 1886 when it was published by Frank H. Richards of Troy, New York, for 25¢ or "10 cents silver (for) a cheaper set to learn the game." CONTACK/TRI-OMINOES is simple and enjoyable to play, The Volume Sprayer game has pressed wood pieces and the original (Volume Sprayer) hexagonal tin-lined box.

"Contack is a scientific game of skill and promotes alertness, concentration, accurate planning and rapid calculating. It should always be played with earnest to win." (That from the first couple of lines of the rule book.). This game is actually the precursor of Tri-onimos.

When placing the pieces against each other, the last one laid has to be where the next one goes. The colours have to match and the sum of the numbers must be divisible by five, or the number and colour can be identical but that is only a "match" and no score. This applies to all moves - one, two or three-sided.