Analog Chess Clock!

I don't know, man. I had a analog chess clock. I think I gave it away. It was pretty low quality. Just felt cheap. Made out of bamboo wood or whatever. And the tiny little dials you punch. Sometimes I would discover the time had stopped on its own just because.

Hi Frank...

How did you find out that the generation 2 Garde model was released in '65? I know, of course that the generation2 model was used in the '72 Fischer - Spassky match ( which is why I bought mine! ) but I've been unable to pin down when the second generation Garde came into being. I've picked up a lot of information about Garde clocks from two main sources. They are this site... https://ostalgieruhla.wordpress.com/ruhla-clocks/ruhla-chess-clock-schachuhr/

and Dr. Holger's site.... https://www.chess-collection.de/chess-clocks

I got the impression that the first Garde clock was shown at the 1960 Chess Olympiad but when, exactly the generation 2s became available is unclear to me.

Why do you think the last Garde Ruhla model which was made - not the Garde "Classic" which is made in China - but the ones that Kasparov shows in his video about his training course is inferior to the Generation 1 and 2s. They say " Garde Ruhla" on each clock face below the hour - minute hands. They still used the timers actually produced in the Ruhla factory and are referred to as the Generation 3 Ruhlas. One thing I like in particular about them is that they're about 1/4 of an inch larger in depth than the generation 1 & 2s and have little rubber feet on the bottom of the clock to help absorb the pounding and to protect the wood base during vigorous use. Definitely more stable! Plus the clock faces have much thicker, bolder numerals. I think they are the best of the Garde clocks!!

I enjoyed reading your input about these clocks very much and I thank you...

,,,,from a Garde clock aficionado!

Hi GJW4922 - there's a Medium.com article published in 2016 that may be helpful.  I can't post the link as I'm a new User and this is my first post on Chess.com.  If you do a Google search, the title of the article is:  "History of the Ruhla brand: The first watch to be mass-produced and the first German watch in space. 124 years in 24 images."

Once I can post images, I'll post a picture of a first-generation Garde chess clock that I was fortunate to recently acquire from a seller living in a small town in Germany...when i saw it posted on Ebay.de, i was shocked to see from the seller's pictures that it looked to be in virtually mint condition...but since the seller had zero feedback, no one bothered to bid on the item...so i got it for a modest sum (although the shipping charge to the United States, even at cost, was a bit high).  The clock turned out to be perfect as pictured and runs beautifully.

Hi GJW4922 - there's a Medium.com article published in 2016 that may be helpful.  I can't post the link as I'm a new User and this is my first post on Chess.com.  If you do a Google search, the title of the article is:  "History of the Ruhla brand: The first watch to be mass-produced and the first German watch in space. 124 years in 24 images."

Once I can post images, I'll post a picture of a first-generation Garde chess clock that I was fortunate to recently acquire from a seller living in a small town in Germany...when i saw it posted on Ebay.de, i was shocked to see from the seller's pictures that it looked to be in virtually mint condition...but since the seller had zero feedback, no one bothered to bid on the item...so i got it for a modest sum (although the shipping charge to the United States, even at cost, was a bit high).  The clock turned out to be perfect as pictured and runs beautifully.

Hello again, Frank...

Thanks for your reply and congratulations on acquiring a first generation Garde chess clock in mint condition. Don't you love it when that happens?!  Speaking of good finds, I came across a fellow in Germany who had acquired some Prim "Gambit" chess clocks from an older gentleman who used to operate a chess club. Talk about a find! Anyway, the Prim "Gambit" chess clocks are Czechoslovakian and were the Prim clock company's response to the release of the Garde clocks in the early sixties. A little later, they made a deal with Jerger to market them with the Jerger name instead of Prim but were still called the "Gambit" model and were identical except for "Jerger" being substituted for "Prim". I bought two of them from this second owner - one for me and one for a very good chess friend. I should mention that one person left unflattering comments about wonky timer buttons action on another forum but I, for the life of me, can't see what he was talking about! My two work perfectly. Here's a few pictures for your enjoyment! I love the white clock faces contrasting with the black front - very striking!

Gordon W

Those Prim/Jerger clocks look beautiful!  Thanks for sharing pics of them!

You're very welcome, OldTimer888! I'm glad you enjoyed them.

Best wishes,

Gordon W

Good evening, Shelby!

I will do just that and thanks for your reply!

Gordon W

Hi Shelby...

Here's a photo of an offbeat Russian Yantar blitz clock that I bought at the Etsy.com website last night.

I enjoy using blitz clocks and this one should turn a few heads don't you think?

Bye for now,

Gordon W

@GJW4922 - This is very interesting. Do you have any further information about this Yantar blitz version? I am asking because I have the same clock and was not able to find out anything about it so far.

The "Gambit" clocks have a very beautiful design, if you ask me. So far, I found three versions of this clock. The two you already mention, i.e. the "Prim" and the "Jerger". Lately, I also came upon a third version in a black case with a "hanhart" logo.

Hi EfimL G47...

I'm sorry but I haven't much to add at this point. I know there's thousands of these "Yantar" clocks with the exact frame as ours but yours and mine are the only two that I've ever seen. Yours is even more special than mine, I think, because the number 1 numeral is red ...danger...! I'm pretty sure it's a seventies or eighties clock though. Just out of curiosity, what country do you live in?

Gordon W

Hi again, Shelby...

Sure, I'll pick up the next one I see for you but be patient - it may take awhile!!

Gordon W

Hi Gordon,

Too bad, but that's how it is. I live in Germany by the way and I think you have already referred to my website in this thread. Thanks for that!

Holger

Hello again, EfimL G47...

Thanks for posting your photo of the "Gambit" clock with the black case! Very, very nice!

Gordon W

Hi Holger! I didn't know what your handle was so I didn't know it was you posting! I hope all is well and best wishes for a great Fall season.

Gordy W

One of you mentioned that mechanical chess clocks SHOULD be maintained. What work needs to be done to maintain these clocks? Can this be done by anyone who can use a screwdriver, or should this task be performed by an experienced professional akin to a mechanical watch repairman. And everyone is aware that trade/skill is synonymous to Cobol and Fortran programming.

Hi chessroboto...

I have oiled chess clocks and it's not too difficult. Look up " how to oil clocks" on Google and read the article - s carefully. You must use specially formulated clock oil only! There's only certain places that you sparingly apply the oil but you'll see that when you read an article or two. I haven't had to clean a chess clock workings yet but I'm sure that would be covered in various articles as well. I was able to order some clock oil online and it's very affordable and comes in a syringe -type applicator which contains enough oil for practically a lifetime of usages for someone like us who doesn't professionally do this.

Hope this helps...

Gordon W

This does help. Thanks. 
All this time I was imagining the need to disassemble the innards, manually twist the coiled leaf spring/s to increase the tension, polish the rubbed parts, straighten the pins of the plunger mechanism to remove the loose play when depressing the buttons, and THEN add the drops of lubricant.