Drueke chess board on Ebay

There's a newly listed 18" Drueke board on Ebay at a terrific starting price . . . I'm not looking to buy since I already have one of these, but someone else might want to take a look:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251197129035?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

If i didn't already have a Drueke board this size, I'd grab this one. 

Lee

Oh boy more sharp shooters at the end of an auction. I'd go to wholesale chess

Ebay auctions just depend on who's bidding.  Sometimes you luck out, sometimes you don't. 

I think because the original Drueke boards are out of production, they're bringing higher and higher prices now.  I lucked out and got my 18" board a while ago.

If I were looking to buy one now, I'd seriously consider the new boards being made by William F. Drueke III, which he sells "buy it now" on Ebay, for instance:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chess-board-by-Drueke-Model-62-Select-Walnut-and-Maple-with-1-3-4-squares-/150954934050?pt=Games_US&hash=item23259d7f22

I haven't seen one in person, but the photos look identical to the original boards.

Wholesale Chess doesn't have any Drueke boards, as far as I can tell.

Another choice would be the solid wood boards sold by The Chess House:

http://www.chesshouse.com/18_Solid_Wood_Chessboard_2_squares_p/g18b.htm

Again, haven't seen them myself, but the reviews are good.

Lee

@ BorgQueen: My experience on eBay is very limited but I did get lucky purchasing CB9 there for a decent price (used, but still had a valid registration #). Ergo I wouldn't automatically ASSume it's never possible to get a deal by bidding on something at eBay, although I still think it's often unlikely unless you're there to bid in the last 5 minutes.

I know this is an old post, but those look pretty rough compared to a real Drueke board, i.e., not one simply made by someone in the Drueke family, but one made in the actual factory when it was operating. Here's a current link to one of William F. Drueke III's auctions - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Drueke-Games-Walnut-and-Maple-chessboard-2-1-4-squares-/360638781263?pt=Educational_Materials&hash=item53f7bf174f

For starters, the width of the outer frame isn't as big. It is 2-1/2" wide on a real Drueke board, and you can tell by comparing the size of the frame on that eBay one to its 2-1/4" square size that it is nowhere near 2-1/2". Also, the wood, especially the walnut, looks quite rough; it is not finished to the same standard as a real Drueke and/or it is a lower grade of walnut. It just looks rough in general (zoom in on the lower left-hand corner of the frame for example).

Without the resources of a factory and the experience of its workers, it is going to be hard to replicate their products regardless of your last name.  A real Drueke board, at least one of relatively recent manufacture, is like satin. Here is a comparison:

My real Drueke board is on top, and the eBay one from the Drueke grandson is on bottom.

Hi,

I'm the Drueke grandson - making the chess boards. Using all the same operations as we always did.  The board pictured was a mistake but it is not rough. I use a satin finish lacquer industrial quality. I sold it and also got it back.  I stand behind these boards. The customer was refunded the full price. He paid return shipping. 

I managed Drueke as president when my dad sold the company in 1987.  The new owners have discontinued most all the games now.  The boards are made the same as always by me at age 70. In the fall last year, I sold 2 chess tables and about a dozen of the boards. When Hal got his table his response was, " I am much more than satisfied...". 

Bill Drueke

Another nice-looking original Drueke board is being offered on ebay at a bargain price:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Drueke-21-Chess-Board/171059573244?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D8441700315918146403%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D171059573244%26