Ronbo710 wrote:
Awesome set Mike. My knights wanted you to know ...
Thanks Ron, your Botvinnik-Flohr ll Knights have good taste!
A Botvinnik-Flohr II 1940's-50's Soviet Tournament Set
Sort:
cgrau wrote:
goodknightmike wrote:
With the never ending quest to feed the addiction, I acquired another vintage 1940's-50's Soviet weighted tournament set. Kings measure 4 1/4" in height with a 1.75" diameter base. Pawns are 2 3/8" in height with a 1 3/8" base. The pieces are finely turned with gorgeous chunky wide bases. The Knights have a pleasing "goose neck" appearance and are nicely carved. According to Chuck Grau, this set design was first used in the 1935 Moscow Tournament and not to be confused with the set used in the 1933 Botvinnik-Flohr Match. Here is a link to Chuck's wonderful post on his Botvinnik-Flohr set: https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/flohr-botvinnik-a-masterpiece-of-a-set
My set differs slightly from Chuck's, but for the most part, they're the same design. To avoid confusion with the 1933 Botvinnik-Flohr set, I call our type design sets the Botvinnik-Flohr II set.
I have included many pics of the gorgeous set for your persusal.
Thanks, Mike. Great review. I like the addition of the "II" to distinguish this set from the one used in the 1933 Botvinnik-Flohr match. I intend to post here the analysis I've posted on your terrific Facebook equipment page. There is not one "Botvinnik-Flohr" set, but two. The first from their '33 match, and reproduced under that name by House of Staunton and ChessBazaar (CB mistakenly calling it the 1935 set); and the set introduced in the 1935 Moscow Tournament in which Flohr and Botvinnik tied for first. ChessBazaar and Kadun have reproduced this set, without referring to Botvinnik or Flohr, and many Soviet reproductions can be found on auction sites. I believe my set to be an original first level tournament set due to the high quality of its original finish and its heavy weighting compared to other Soviet sets I'm familiar with. The '35 set has a long and storied history, and photographic evidence of its use at the highest levels through at least 1960 abounds. I haven't seen similar evidence of the use of the '33 set.
You're welcome Chuck and thanks so much for your detailed analysis and clarification between the1933 and 1935 Botvinnik-Flohr sets. You are an inspiration to those like myself who collect the vintage Soviet sets along with the Soviet reproductions.
goodknightmike wrote:
You're welcome Chuck and thanks so much for your detailed analysis and clarification between the1933 and 1935 Botvinnik-Flohr sets. You are an inspiration to those like myself who collect the vintage Soviet sets along with the Soviet reproductions.
+1.
I really appreciate the learned comments/insights about Soviets sets from you and Arlindo, among others. You're making me acquire more sets, when I don't even fully remember all the sets I already own... 
Jun 4, 2017
0
#25
Aw, shucks, guys. Arlindo has taught us all the importance of the photographic record to collecting.
[COMMENT DELETED]
[COMMENT DELETED]
[COMMENT DELETED]
[COMMENT DELETED]
[COMMENT DELETED]
[COMMENT DELETED]
Aug 24, 2017
0
#32
PenWarrior wrote:
Hi again, Chuck! Do you know anything about this set? I think he is a "relative" of F-BII set... Unfortunately, the knights are lost and there is no part of the pawns. The king height is 8.8 cm, the pawn height is 5.3 cm
Very interesting set! I'd say it's related to both the BF I & II sets. The bishops in particular resemble those in the BF I set.
[COMMENT DELETED]
Aug 24, 2017
0
#34
PenWarrior wrote:
Morphysrevenges написал:
beautiful but i noticed it was set up incorrectly in the first few pics. you did not have the white queen aka red on her correct square......
Sorry, I didn't understand....
I think he's referring to Mike's first few photos.
[COMMENT DELETED]
Aug 24, 2017
0
#36
PenWarrior wrote:
Those are some interesting rooks, PenWarrior. Not common in Soviet sets, as you know.
was thinking about the same thing...... @UpcountryRain.........Rooks look unique
[COMMENT DELETED]
Sorry, I deleted photos and comments, at the request of the owner of the pieces....
A beautiful chess set, thank you for sharing this with us.
You're welcome Wolf, I'm glad you enjoyed the set