I own a large collection of catalogue pages and advertisements from 19th Century makers and retailers, including both Thomas (the father) and F.H, Ayres. In 1872 F.H. Ayres manufactured and marketed Staunton sets in Bone, Ivory, Boxwood and Ebony and Best French polished Boxwood and Ebony. A number of the sets were made in 7 sizes so effectively what would be described as Library size up to Club size. There is no mention of ebonised pieces. It is accurate to say that no hard evidence has been found to link Ayres with the sets in question. Could someone point me to a top quality Whitty ebony and boxwood set?

That's very rare , Any chance of posting some pictures of the F H Ayres catalogue & marketed Staunton sets ?

The pages are text only. As far as I know the only illustration of Ayres Staunton pieces are from the 1890's and are not particularly helpful in identifying actual sets. The image can be seen on the Chessantiques site. The pic below is the Ayres Chess turning room in 1895 from Strand Magazine.

I think the chess set pictured here is magnificent; in its design, at least, it is the equal or superior of the classic Staunton as far as I'm concerned.

The Strand magazine. I believe that's where Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories were originally published as serials. Sherlock Holmes and chess? Awesome! 

Extract of the editorial that accompanied the Strand chess photo. Oh, and the Conan Doyle stories at that time were "The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard".

This was a lot of money for the top of range chess set ! http://inflation.iamkate.com/

Yes, I think there may be a bit of journalistic "stretch" here. The top of the range Jaques set was under £12 at the time. Having said that I think the point is made that Ayres made a wide range of chess sets "to all classes". To put the Ayres indoor and outdoor games operation into perspective their London workshops covered 3 or 4 acres and they employed almost 600 staff. The turning workshop that made croquet balls,draughts, chessmen etc had a permanent stock of "150 tons of boxwood".

Just to add a link to there very fine rocking horses what there are famous for & history

https://www.rockinghorseheaven.com/history-fh-ayres.html

As for the Bishop's miter in that photo,  you're simply seeing a pawn through the opening. It threw me for a loop at first too. And very nice set.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll#/media/File:DoNotFeedTroll.svg

Still waiting for that top quality Whitty wooden set link or picture. 

What about the pictures or link to the set you claim?  You are a fake.

All you do is regurgitate ? troll that you are ! chessopera . title should be the chess sets I would like own ?

FIDE regulations specify king heights from 85.5mm (3.33”) to 104.5mm (4.10”). Indeed a 3.5” set has been used in World Championship matches before.

What you posted on facebook is irrelevant. Although at least we now know that you post shite everywhere you go.

From FIDE Handbook:

“Recommended height of the pieces is as follows: King – 9.5 cm, Queen – 8.5 cm, Bishop – 7 cm, Knight – 6 cm, Rook – 5.5 cm and Pawn – 5 cm. The diameter of the piece's base should measure 40- 50% of its height. These dimensions may differ up to 10% from the above recommendation, but the order (e.g. King is higher than Queen etc.) must be kept.”

Crumllier doesn't exist. Luckily an eBayer called "ansarez" has a "Richard Whitty" boxwood and ebony chess set up for sale at the moment. Even more fortuitously "ansarez" appears to be the eBay identity of the reliable Chessmonarch! Perhaps you could obtain an image and description and put into this thread so we could appreciate the workmanship?

This is him well done ! chessopera is the ebay seller https://www.ebay.co.uk/urw/ansarez

The Executive Palisander Chess Set

28 Nov, 2017

Too pricy

Same sets are selling for half the price on the market. The price must be reviewed specially as it is sheesham wood.

 

 

Purling Of London - Bold Chess Classic Red v Shadow Black

08 Sep, 2018

Very fragile knights and no after sale service

London Purling chess sets are notorious for their fragile knights. The knights’ chins, jaws and ears break more easily than can be imagined and the replacement costs as much as the whole chess set. The queen’s crown is not any better and they chip at the slightest pressure. ...Read full review

So now we know his game ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/london70

So now you change your name to this seller Chessopera .

from

ansarez

The criminal troll that you are !

So you’re Kevin then are you? To put Chessmonarch in the same class as Tim, Frank and Jon is maybe a tad ambitious no?🤥

Actually, Chessopera, YOU are the one that has tried to deceive, fake and otherwise fool the customers on this forum.