chess clocks

Where can I buy a chess clock in South  Africa?Either one will do.Our Chess club

in Cape Town would like to purchase about 6,but we are cash strapped,and they are very expensive here.Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Chronos, hands down.  Here is a review.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/906513/the_chronos_chess_clock_a_step_above.html

Skwerty the article you link to mentions a new "mini-chronos" that has only one light with different colors for each player.  Does anyone have any more info on this model?  I can't find anything on the net about it.

BTW, I love my chronos.  An amazing piece of engineering.

This topic pops up occasionally, and I seem to be one of the few who sticks up for the antiquated analogs.  There have been US Air Force studies that a pilot can get information from analog dials without taking his mind off what he is doing, where a digital readout fakes out the visual-mind connection.  11:59 is seen as just short of noon on an analog, but requires a distracting mental process to get there with a digital.  According to studies, this is evidently not just a matter of getting used to digital.  The problem is probably more important with blitz.

Also, in the local clubs, players tend to swap and share during events, and analogs all set alike.

All other arguments (other than money and visual appeal) go to digital. 

The accuracy of wind-up analogs is iffy.  I did all sorts of tests on both of my clocks, German and Russian.  The Russian runs slower as it runs down, the German actually runs slightly faster.  The start and flag dropping points are virtually impossible to get perfect.  Setting both minute hands exactly is tricky, and the flag dropping is dependent on the lengths and tip-shapes of both the flags and minute hands, and the flag pivot hole location.  That's 6 variables for each side.  Digitals have no such problems.

Digitals also generally have delays eliminating the need for the "insufficient loosing chances" rule, (a rule I dislike), and providing a buffer for 100 move games.  I like delays; a local master hates them.

One could make an analog with a delay, and I believe Guarde (sp?) once marketed a digital-analog hybrid (not sure how it was set).

I consider some digitals overtly ugly, but like the spartan look of the Chronos.

The main reason for my getting so long winded is to suggest the cheap electric analogs.  This is your 1st clock.  They go for $20 or so, are basically two quartz clocks in one box sharing a battery, seem to all be black and made by the same company although sell under different names (Diamond?).  Their timing movement is as perfect as a digital, their setting and flag dropping is imperfect and they lack delays.  But setting is clear and they are cheap and rugged.  The two local masters both use them.  You could get your super digital later, (digital always seems to be improving and getting cheaper), and if you go to a group event you could lend out the analog without having to police the setting ritual. 

I am including the following link

http://www.chesshouse.com/chess_clocks_s/6.htm

for the videos more than the selection.  A big decision with digital is how many buttons they have.  Chronos has very few, but I believe they are as full featured as any, more than most.  The setting routine has to be memorized, especially the features you don't often change, (length of delay etc).

The link does have my quartz analogs (Master Quartz) and the relatively attractive Dueltimer wood digitals, which I have seen a few times and are almost too small.  I do not work for chess house, and could not care less whom you buy from.

Another small consideration is whether or not the switches are mechanically linked.  Analogs generally are, digitals generally are not, but my quartz analogs are not, and the DGT 2010 is.  I have played with over-zealous players who have (illegally) rested their non piece-moving hand on their button.  If your mind is absorbed in a blitz game, you may not notice.  I have felt their hands before seeing them through the see-saw lever on my old wind-ups.

Edit: Quartz analogs do indeed have mechanical toggle switches.  I was wrong.  Further, the Duel Timers have gotten bigger, but have discontinued their toggle switches.  I read a few reviews saying the USCF Game Timers break.

I love my Chronos II.  It has a very minimalist design and it doesn't look like it is worth the price...but believe me, it is.  It's Bauhaus beautiful !

If you live in FIDE country, however, it probably pays to get a DGT because it is the standard in FIDE tournaments.  You'll notice that they are even using it at the US Women's Championship in St. Louis.  The DGT is a good clock too, but nothing will separate me from my Chronos.  A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

I found this page that has all sorts of reviews/opinions and instructions on digital clocks, plus a good discussion on the "insufficient losing chances" rule (and why every right-thinking TD hates it).

http://members.cox.net/arlingtonchessclub/clocks/print.htm

It should be noted that the picture by the Garde is a discontinued Duel Timer Standard, with the brass toggle buttons.  The new Duel Timer Champions have square Chronos-like switches.  I am considering a Champion and have found out that the delay can be from 1 to 59 seconds but cannot be varied between sides.  I believe one can do just about anything with a Chronos (I am no authority), but from the above link, my guess is that most people stick with a limited number of functions and just a few types of games, as the setting routines seem tricky to figure out without instructions handy.

If the lever of the DGT clock is quiet (I've used old DGTs that had excessively noisy levers, and back then the displays were smallish) then I'd have to add it to the list of excellent clocks. I know the Chronos clocks are first rate as I own one and have used a few.

If you go cheaper than these be sure you're not compromising now and will regret later. It's just a few bucks more and these clocks last for many years.

Why would you buy a clock? You would just cheat and ignore it like you do the game your loosing to me

I took a look at the game and must say that You are absolutely right.

Maybe vargoal should ask DGT or Chronos to build a chessclock with a vacation-button which he can push when his game is lost.

Vargoal has 48 games on vacation. It think it is a bit rich to assume that's all because of your game.

Right. It's also because of all the other hopelessly lost games.

Wow, lots of good info!