Novag Robot Adversary working again!!

I have since a while a Novag Robot Adversary, a chess computer from 1982 able to move the pieces on the board with a robotic arm. People estimate that there are only something like  100 devices worldwide in working condition. 

http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/novag_robot_adversary.html

Until yesterday my Adversary was not working either. I bought it in internet, tested it, and when I came home he played the game Paul Morphy vs Duke Karl / Count Isouard (1858) by autoplay until move 16...Nxb8, and stopped before checkmate with 17. Rd8!

The arm of the computer was moving erratically, open and closing his fingers frenetically, and every time I switched it off and on the arm moved more and more clockwise.  A lot of these computers have broken arms because the owners went on switching off and on, so I switched off and did not try again until today.

I thought it would be difficult to find somebody to fix it. But some days ago I went to a shop where a guy fixed old devices, like record players and radios. He said I should just bring the computer and he would give a try.

Today he sent me a message, I should come to see if I am happy how the robot is working!

It is working! I still have to test it extensively, but in the game I played against him (1.d4 f5) he was working perfectlys. The guy has still to finish the work, and I will take the computer in two days. 

I am really happy about this!

Interesting. Wonder which is better magnet or mechanical?

Yes I must agree. Hopefully he is able to fix it properly all the way. There are only a few in full working condition... Goodluck!

How is the Novag doing now? Have you gotten it back yet?

I took it home few minutes ago.  I will test it soon and let you know.  It looks great in my living room, close to the Square Off.

Wow! Congratulations! Have you tested castling? Send photos please!

Yes,  castling went well.  The arm touched the king,  I thought first it would fall,  but nothing happened . I could try to make a video Square Off vs Adversary and post here the link. 

Nice!

Hi

I don't suppose you would like to share the repairers name and address would you as I have a few American computer chess friends who also own unusable Novag Adversarys.

Thanks

No problem, but I am living in Switzerland!

For people living in Bern the address is

Seidenweg 2

3012 Bern

www.elektronik-und-design.ch

 I did a video from Adversary versus Square Off.  Checkmate for SO on level 5, Adversary on level 2. I still have to edit the video and publish it on YouTube. In the meantime I send a picture of both computers. The adversary is working really well! 

Noice!

Yes. I wonder how. There must not be anything about how to fix the Novag online is there?

There is something from a guy from Holland,  I think.  But the work he did was much more extensive, as the robot's arm was broken. In my device the problem was only with the electronic. 

I get it now..

Well congrats on the functioning Novag Adversary!