Chess Clocks

What kind of chess clocks are good quality and cheap?

Where cani find them?

(Preferably Analog)

http://www.chess.com/equipment/chess+clocks

There are analog clocks there too.

good quality and cheap is generally an oxymoron :)

if you want an affordable analog clock that is solid quality, get a BHB. or just get a cheap chinese clock that is affordable to replace if it breaks?

try:

www.wholesalechess.com

www.chesshouse.com

p.s. i use the Chronos Blitz (button version)

:)

I'm curious as to your preference for analog. Is it a tradition thing or is there some reason?

Personally I can't stand the things... can't tell how long you have left very precisely, and I always play with either increment or delay, as it prevents ILC headaches.

In the USCF and FIDE digital delay clocks are preferred over analog or digital non-delay clocks (meaning even as White my clock is usually used)... something to keep in mind if the rules are similar in Canada, and they probably are. I use the DGT 2010 since that's FIDE's official clock but I hear the Chronos is excellent.

Wind up analogs tend to be surprising inaccurate unless you fiddle with them a bit and they still vary their speed  as they wind down.  I do have a collection of such and the German Jergers, (discontinued and pricey) was the most consistent and accurate.  The electric quartz analogs are excellent and accurate to 20 seconds a month or whatever modern quartz movements are accurate to.  They also set the time in the obvious manner and are reliable and cheap (usually under $25 )fitting all your criteria.   I do not own one but several local players do and the one I grilled on the subject has had no problems.  Click on the link and scroll down this page until you hit "Diamond Quartz". 

http://www.wholesalechess.com/store/chess_clocks 

They do lack a delay feature (which I prefer) getting you possibly involved in extreme time crunches and annoyingly losing an easily won game, but they do have the analog face.  Airline pilot studies supposedly (don't ask me for sources) find they are less distracting although less exact.  If they made a quartz-analog with a delay, I would be tickled pink and it should be easily do-able.  I think Garde made a quartz analog-digital hybrid at one point, but again it was pricey and I am not even sure it had a delay.  Quartz analogs seem to sell under several names and I think I've seen them for even less than $25 and packaged with sets.

Likesforests and WW are essentially correct, and digitals with delays have a legal preference in tournaments, avoiding all sorts of "Insufficient losing chances" arguments not to mention a bizarre recent conflict here between a friend and a visitor that I felt amounted to cheating.  However, I'm with you and stubbornly cling to analogs.  Good luck.

As long as I'm being long winded, I should have mentioned that cheap wind-ups are inferior (less reliable) to BP, Jergers, Garde, or my Russian Jantaz, but the Diamond Quartz is essentially two battery powered $5 clocks with switches and drop flags in the same box.  Cheap, simple and reliable.

Escapest_Pawn> digitals with delays have a legal preference in tournaments

Insisting on using my clock and time control sometimes upsets opponents or throws them off. For example, one assumed that entering a drawn ending with 12 minutes to 2 minutes was winning... but of course with a delay clock, it's no problem making 50 quick moves.

If you go analog--and I agree they're more aesthetically pleasing--remember to prepare for both types of finish (and the rule differences) so you aren't disappointed or surprised. Most players seem able to adapt. :)

I completely agree, likesforests, (and I like forests too) delays are simply superior, making time pressure more manageable and awkward rules unnecessary. As I am obviously in a blabbing mood, the aforementioned conflict involved a visitor down to 10 seconds or so against a friend with 10 minutes or so on an analog clock.  The visitor insisted on changing to a time delay clock which apparently is legal if he halves his time.  The changeover took at least 10 minutes with lots of discussion during which time he was obviously looking at the board.  I felt he should have provided his own delay clock to begin with or been stuck with what was originally available or at least, have to leave the room during the changeover.  As I say, an awkward rule, avoidable if they had simply started with a delay clock.  If I had been playing with an analog of mine, I would have simply run out of time rather that pull such a stunt, legal or not.  Of course, I was ignorant of the rule.

Im building my own chess clock for a school project. (Electronics)

So can't get any cheaper!

Thank you i will check these out

I used to live and die with a Master Quartz, nice clock not terribly expensive but when it quit working about a year ago i moved into the digital age and bought a DGT 2000 After using it in several tourn. i must say i am really pleased with it and couldn't imagine going back to a Analog clock.

Thanks

BTW, I want a chess clock for my son so I came to this forum hoping for an answer....Not sure I got one.  I was hoping more for the

buy x for $y at www.z.com.

Or maybe buy analog for $y at www.z.com or this digital for $x at www.z.com.

rmacey> many involving arcane rules.

Arcane? The rules are on the USCF website. If you don't have a digital delay clock, your opponent may replace it, changing the game from G/45 (0s delay) to G/40 (5s delay).

rmacey> BTW, I want a chess clock for my son so I came to this forum hoping for an answer....Not sure I got one.

If winning a particular tourney wasn't real important to my son/daughter and I wasn't sure how long they would be playing, I might consider this ($28) clock:

   http://uscfsales.com/item.asp?cID=0&PID=1831

This ($52) is the classic wooden clock:

   http://www.wholesalechess.com/detail/bhb_chess_clock_special

I use this ($75, digital delay). The official FIDE clock and used by many GMs.

   http://uscfsales.com/item.asp?cID=0&PID=2459

Loomis swears by this ($100, digital delay). Ultra-reliable and popular in the US.

   http://www.wholesalechess.com/detail/chronos_digital_chess_clock_ii_to_button

If you want better answers, be more specific about the budget, your son's age and usual time controls, whether he prefers digital or analog, etc.

thanks , good enough