With a little research I found that they were issued by the Chicago based Exhibit Supply Company who's history ran from 1921 to 1971. They produced sports, entertainment, science, jokes, showgirls, politician and many other sets with a total production thought to have run in excess of 14,000 different cards of all types. To sell this huge inventory they produced card vending machines and installed them in bars, theaters, arcades and on boardwalks.
These cards measured approximately 3 1/4" by 5 1/4" and were issued on heavy cardboard stock. The cards showed full-bleed photos with the player's name burned in toward the bottom. The hockey exhibit cards were generally considered more scarce than their baseball exhibit counterparts. Since the cards were unnumbered, the set is listed alphabetically within teams as follows: Montreal (1-27), Toronto (28-42), Detroit (43-46), Boston (47-48), Chicago (49-50), and New York (51). The set closes with an Action subset (52-65).
Here are my Exhibit Boston Bruin creations:
You can purchase these cards, or any of my Missing Link creations, for $10 each postpaid, or $7.95 for 3 or more. Email me at: [email protected], volume discounts available on larger orders.