liml wrote:
Gee. This is an expensive plastic set.
liml
Do you think this was the first all xylonite chess set if it's from 1900 ?
http://www.decolish.com/Xylonite.html
British Chess Company (BCC)
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I am not quite sure if this is the first.
There are a number of posts in different topics for BCC Popular sets so I thought I would post my info in the main BCC section.
Staunton Popular Chessmen were advertised in 1899 as part of BCC's "Revised Price List of Materials". They were available in 7 sizes, loaded or unloaded and in 3 box options.
By 1902 this had shrunk to 4 sizes and available in just one box option.
By 1908 , and after BCC's demise, the same pieces were advertised by "Chess Amateur Depot", the Stroud based chess magazine established in 1906. They are simply described as "Staunton Pattern".
In a 1915 advert in the same magazine an image of the king shows a small cylinder in place of a cross for the finial. Since a number of actual sets can be seen now with identical finials it must be assumed they are the finished article.
BCC Popular sets will have either a crown or starburst stamp on 2 each of the rooks and knight bases. The sets not marketed by BCC won't. My instinct has been for some time that they were re-branded French imports.
gambiteer63 wrote:
There are a number of posts in different topics for BCC Popular sets so I thought I would post my info in the main BCC section.
Staunton Popular Chessmen were advertised in 1899 as part of BCC's "Revised Price List of Materials". They were available in 7 sizes, loaded or unloaded and in 3 box options.
By 1902 this had shrunk to 4 sizes and available in just one box option.
By 1908 , and after BCC's demise, the same pieces were advertised by "Chess Amateur Depot", the Stroud based chess magazine established in 1906. They are simply described as "Staunton Pattern".
In a 1915 advert in the same magazine an image of the king shows a small cylinder in place of a cross for the finial. Since a number of actual sets can be seen now with identical finials it must be assumed they are the finished article.
BCC Popular sets will have either a crown or starburst stamp on 2 each of the rooks and knight bases. The sets not marketed by BCC won't. My instinct has been for some time that they were re-branded French imports.
Thanks for the additional information. This BCC set is my favourite.
You are welcome. Since my eyesight is not the best could you tell me what stamps are on your pieces? Also did you get the original box with the pieces? I have a similar set but a little later with the king knop rather than a cross and starburst stamps.
I got some pieces from SMID
gambiteer63 wrote:
You are welcome. Since my eyesight is not the best could you tell me what stamps are on your pieces? Also did you get the original box with the pieces? I have a similar set but a little later with the king knop rather than a cross and starburst stamps.
The only discernible stamping is on the white rook. It came with the box but the label is all gone. So, I am not sure if the box is the original box.
It is unusual for BCC to have faded stamps so that is a pity. I have put in a link to my google photo album of a BCC Staunton Club set. It is in excellent condition although I have to admit I prefer the Royal sets to the Staunton ones. I hope the link works!
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipO1mDHKYd014nYOM5y4nphsl4UanJ2v61itUbH4?key=CKGCh421ovKGQw
Alas, Google has dashed your hopes.
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipO1mDHKYd014nYOM5y4nphsl4UanJ2v61itUbH4?key=CKGCh421ovKGQw
404. That’s an error.
The requested URL was not found on this server. That’s all we know
After looking more closely look's as if the set has been painted ,
Do you mean the red pieces? I think it's meant to look like that