Drueke vs JLP vs Colorado WoodWorker solid wood chessboards

Drueke and JLP solid wood chess boards, for anyone who might be interested in checking them out.*

Drueke solid wood chess boards (i.e., new ones) are now sold on eBay by William Drueke III....the company was founded by his grandfather.  The grandson appears to be now a one-man operation, but claims to be maintaining the same product quality as the legendary boards of his grandfather.

http://www.druekegames.net/products/

http://stores.ebay.com/druekegames/

several sizes of boards are offered...

http://stores.ebay.com/Drueke-Games/Games-/_i.html?_fsub=3&_sid=119475863&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

for example, here a Drueke 21 inch board, 2 in. squares....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chessboard-with-2-squares-and-fancy-profiled-edges-made-by-Drueke-Games-/162175471837?hash=item25c26950dd:g:~sYAAOSwoydWtJwK

Images of Drueke solid wood chess boards....

https://www.google.com/search?q=drueke+chess+board&espv=2&biw=1309&bih=735&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7wfr30dTOAhVIWSYKHfvbCRgQsAQITA

Image of Drueke solid wood board on chess.com (post #17)

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/best-size-pieces-to-go-with-2-squares-board

Another Drueke board on chess.com (post #1)

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/herman-ohme-drueke-board

Nice photos of Drueke boards here as well...

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/ive-ordered-a-drueke-board

JLP solid wood chess boards - very similar, if not virtually identical in most respects to the Drueke solid wood boards.

[Edit - 27 October 2016.  Based on my recent conversation with Raphael Neff, CEO and owner of ChessHouse.com, he has informed me that the "JLP" boards (which he says were inspired by the Drueke boards) are sold exclusively through ChessHouse.com, and that they are in fact made in Pennsylvania, and not by the JLP Woodworking company in Selma, Texas referenced elsewhere in this and other forum threads.  To avoid confusion with the company in Texas, going forward the names of these boards being sold by ChessHouse.com will be changed to simply "JLP" (i.e., "Woodworking" will be dropped from the product name).  See post #8 below for further explanation.]

https://www.chesshouse.com/collections/jlp-woodworking-hardwood-chess-boards

Videos by chesshouse, showing off and comparing the Drueke and JLP solid wood chess boards, as well as the JLP chess table....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pCwuj49qAs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0fJDDbM0MI

Photos of a JLP board posted on Chess.com (post #26)....

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/official-staunton-paul-morphy-series?page=2

My other thread on JLP chess boards...

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/jlp-woodworking-chess-boards

Finally, discussion of ColoradoWoodWorker boards begins with Post #23 below.

*This posting is for informational purposes only.  I am not affiliated in any way with either Drueke Games, ChessHouse.com, JLP Woodworking, or ColoradoWoodworker, .

Thanks for the info. I searched for JLP Woodworking and found the same Selma, TX address which makes it interesting that ChessHouse says this on their JLP Woodworking Hardwood USA Products page:

In rural Pennsylvania, John has a rich heritage of woodworking that runs in the family and originates in Switzerland.

See the "Edit of 27 Oct. 2016" in my post #1 above.

nice boards...but im live in CHN

Based on Google searches and maps, JLP looks to be a 2 person home business with < $150,000 annual revenue founded in 2003.

http://www.buzzfile.com/business/Jlp-Woodworking-210-651-6416

@JWBogo  -

Yes.  That appears to confirm the Texas location information I had posted earlier for JLP Woodworking.

However, see the "Edit of 27 Oct. 2016" in my post #1 above.

Thanks.

Thanks for the links and info guys.

Here's a clarification since I work with the craftsman directly.

The phrase "JLP woodworking" is unintentionally misleading. We didn't realize that it would lead to searches, let alone that there is a company by that name. The term Woodworking has been removed to avoid confusion.

The reality is that the JLP boards are made for Chess House directly by our contracted craftsman and we gave it the name JLP.

The Drueke chessboard inspired the original design and since then a number of other designs have been made under the JLP line. http://www.chesshouse.com/JLP_Hardwood_USA_Chess_s/458.htm

So there's no connection with Texas whatsoever and the category title has been updated to ensure that.

Thanks for your exploratory work Russell. It was a pleasure speaking with you.

Raphael

Drueke board looks better, from the images

I recently purchased a JLP board (21"; 2" squares). I have not owned a Drueke board, but I can tell you that I am perfectly satisfied with this JLP board. I bought an imperfect for a drastic discount ($170 as compared to $300 in perfect condition). The imperfection consists of a slight discoloration along the center. It is hardly noticeable and has not detracted from the board's beauty. I currently have the board set up with the HoS Collector's Set chessmen in boxwood and ebonized boxwood. I will post a picture of it tomorrow morning.

@Raphael - 

Thanks for explaining the situation regarding the naming of your previously branded "JLP Woodworking" boards.  Particularly the clarification that the JLP boards offered by you at ChessHouse.com are in fact made in Pennsylvania, and are not made by the "JLP Woodworking" company in Texas which I had referenced earlier in this thread.

So if I understand you correctly, you have removed the word "Woodworking" from the name of the product and intend, going forward, to call them simply "JLP" boards?

To be honest, I feel that any reference in the name to "JLP" has the potential to engender confusion (although perhaps less confusion than previously).  I understand that a brand and name recognition has been created which you may not want to entirely abandon.  But the potential for confusion is likely to still exist.  You might consider changing the name to the initials of the person actually crafting the boards.  Just a thought

On a different note - post #9 (lofina) in this thread, brings to mind something we had discussed.  That is, the quality of photographic images of the product on the webpage can have a significant impact on how the quality of product itself is perceived.  Frankly, I believe the quality of the JLP boards is excellent (I don't own one, this is based on comments I've heard from others who do) and that the photos currently on your website really don't do them justice.  It is my understanding, again from our conversation, that you intend to make improvements in your webpage images.

Finally, I too enjoyed our phone conversation - it was a pleasure speaking with you.  I wish you and ChessHouse.com much success.  I'm sure I will be purchasing more from you in the future!

Russell

My next board will be from this ARTIST ... someday   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m1eIB5KPls

@russbell

JLP in fact is the initials of the craftsman.

The JLP boards have many delighted owners and they have been used in three events by Magnus Carlsen.

@Ronbo - He is definitely an artist!  Do you have any contact info for him?

No sorry. I don't even know if he ships out of Russia.

my Drueke  board with 2 1/4" squares

That's a very nice looking Drueke board.  The pieces look like the "Fierce Knight" Rosewood & Boxwood set from The Chess Store - also very nice (I own this set as well, in "Ebonized" boxwood)...

https://thechessstore.com/fierce-knight-staunton-chess-set-in-rosewood-boxwood-4-king/

You are correct, 4" king

A nice set as well.  I also own the Fierce Knight set...which I like very much...

#16

Looks great.... ....would have preferred a darker shade on the "White" pieces .... ....so there would be some contrast