GNM,
I always liked those glass-eyed knights. I had a smaller French set that had them, but after 35+ years the light olive wood darkened so much it was hard to tell the light pieces from the dark ones. I finally gave it to a young, college bound chess player.
Anyway, I began to miss those expressive eyes, so, on a whim I added a set of wobbly eyes to my HoS Mechanics Institute set. I figured it was a whimsical set to begin with so a bit more whimsy wouldn't hurt.
Lou, all I can say is,"Jeepers peepers! Where'd you get those those creepers?"
Lou, all I can say is,"Jeepers peepers! Where'd you get those those creepers?"
Yeah, it's a fun set to play with. A copy of a set designed for a 32-board simul with Capablanca at the Mechanics Institute Chess Club in 1916 (Cappy went +29=3-0). Apparently, one of the members was a woodworker and made up a number of sets for the event. Afterwards, they became everyday club sets. They must have been pretty durable as a number of sets survived well into the 1970s.
It must have been a popular set, as one turned up in the 1937 film The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) with David Niven and C. Aubrey Smith shown below, with Ronald Coleman (not shown).
Interesting Lou, thanks for sharing
A wonderful set Mike! IMHO it's least likely English and most likely German. The non-Knight pieces don't resemble English Staunton designs. The Rook and Queen certainly look Lardyesque, but I find those design elements in German sets as well. So while it's more likely French than English, I'd say it most likely German. It reminds me of the set I posted from the Dorland site, especially the King, Bishop, and Knight. Aber, wer weiß?
Mike, I have never seen a BCC set that looks anything like the one you're calling BCC. May I ask how you determined that it's a BCC?
Mike, I have never seen a BCC set that looks anything like the one you're calling BCC. May I ask how you determined that it's a BCC?
Frank, Mike can speak for himself, but he posted a topic on this earlier. https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/the-british-chess-company-sets-used-in-the-hastings-chess-congress-1950s-60s
Thanks for the link, Chuck. I missed this thread when it was originally posted. It clearly shows that particular set being used in the Hastings tournaments. What I'm confused about is where the original designation as this set being BCC is derived from? Seems weird that they would be using sets at Hastings supposesly produced by a company that went out of business 50 years earlier?
The various BCC sets are well documented, as Moffatt advertised them quite a bit at the time. Here's a good overview:
http://www.fersht.com/The%20British%20Chess%20Company.htm
Does this set have any markings typical of BCC sets (eg star stamp)? Is there a label in the box?
I am not disputing the claim, I just can't source it and would love to know the details, as I am always eager to learn more about chess set history.
Mike, I have never seen a BCC set that looks anything like the one you're calling BCC. May I ask how you determined that it's a BCC?
Frank, you raise some good questions about my set being a BCC set. But if Alan Dewey says it a BCC set, based on all his experience with English Staunton sets, that's good enough for me. But maybe other members can come forth with more information on the set.
A wonderful set Mike! IMHO it's least likely English and most likely German. The non-Knight pieces don't resemble English Staunton designs. The Rook and Queen certainly look Lardyesque, but I find those design elements in German sets as well. So while it's more likely French than English, I'd say it most likely German. It reminds me of the set I posted from the Dorland site, especially the King, Bishop, and Knight. Aber, wer weiß?
Thanks Chuck, you make some good points for it being a German made set. But as you suggested, it could possibly be a French set.
Is there more information about this set? I have exactly the same in my collection, and I am trying to find out when it was produced. I guess it is a german set (I live in the german part of Switzerland). I don’t know, but probably I bought it in a flea market in Switzerland. I am trying to find something about the value, as I will try to sell it in the next days.
Recently I pulled one of my sets out of storage after veiwing Cgrau's post on his German glass eyed set:
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/german-1940s-glass-eyed-knight-set
Kings in my set measure 3 3/8" in height. The outstanding feature of this set is its over-sized Knights with glass eyes.. My Knights differ somewhat from Chuck's Knights, which raises the question of who is its maker or where was my set made? In a previous forum I featured a vintagen 3 7/8" 1890 BCC set with glass eyed Knights:
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/the-british-chess-company-sets-used-in-the-hastings-chess-congress-1950s-60s
The Knights in the 1890s BCC set look almost identical to Knights in this forum. So is my set a BCC set, German glass eyed set, French set, or other? Your opinion is appreciated.
I have included some pics of the Knights from my BCC set with this sets's Knights for comparison.