Harking back to days of yore…
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Dec 25, 2022
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#2
Yep, inspired by Austrian Coffee House pieces. There are Austrian repros with more finesse. For example, I reckon SC has a magnificent version with more subtle curves, a more detailed knight and a different finish but … for my taste and budget, this is beautiful looking and well balanced. A deeper review to follow, in due course.
Nice! Stingy TheOne is still lurking for a bargain price on second-hand markets 
I think I have some yes, but not like this one.
I have a soft spot for coffee house sets, my current set up is a CB Austrian coffee house set, well done Powderdigit. Looking forward to the review.
Great post, thanks for the pictures!
Dec 26, 2022
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#7
The other delivery just arrived. The box and board are mine but you’ll get a sense of what I was trying to achieve.
This is a purposely crowded set up because I’ve see numerous photos from olden days where the pieces seemed tighter on the boards (than modern times).
Again, a deeper review to follow when I’ve got a bit more time. 
Dec 26, 2022
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#8
Ah, very nice @Powderdigit! Strength of Character shines through on these pieces runs through my mind. Thank you for sharing, much appreciated.
Dec 26, 2022
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#9
Hey gents, thanks. Wits, part of my thinking on these sets is to have frames of reference for wood turning… and of course, have a wide variety of tasteful sets for play and display. MC - the manufacturer is correct but not that exact set; rather pieces inspired from around that time, perhaps slightly earlier.
Dec 26, 2022
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#10
Lovely, absolutely lovely pieces! My fav is the first set, though. I'm wondering about the weight of the pieces....
My dog chomped on a piece, from a nice wooden set I have, that fell under the table during a game before i could stop her. Now i need a new set!
Yikes, i see now the set is $300 or so. Very expensive for a dog chew toy. *sigh*
Thank you for sharing, Powderdigit!
Dec 26, 2022
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#11
You’re welcome witty_ since joining this forum I have been happy to share because I think it helps our collective knowledge … I am not on social media, such as Bookface and Insta etc… so this forum certainly helped me prior to purchasing my first set. On price - perhaps not as expensive as you might imagine - both of these were circa USD$140’ish each on various BF and Xmas specials.
Also - for those concerned, like my wife, the addiction is weakening - I’ve sold 5 sets in recent times so … I’m net (-3). 🤦♂️
Dec 26, 2022
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#12
lol@concerned like your wife
Yes, ok, you've lost a bit but maybe you didnt! We pay 10 bucks to see a movie with nothing tangible to show for it afterwards, right? Well, you got to enjoy your sets and compare them, play with them, look at them while you had them in your possession, so think of that as similar to a movie ticket! 
Dec 26, 2022
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#13
😊 True and in the spirit of comparison, here are the pieces on a slightly larger vintage board. 
Very nice mr P! I remember when you bought your first 5 lockdown sets and since then the direction you're headed with your preferences of style. Fascinating to see that
Dec 27, 2022
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#15
Okay, I need to ask because 1) I’m dense enough to not know, and 2) I’m sharp enough to know when I’m in a room of intelligent folks…. Why are they called “coffee house” sets? Please don’t put a “kick me” sign on my back. 😄
Dec 27, 2022
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#16
Just got a novelty chess set last week... previously having said I was not really looking to get one a month ago when I started playing chess anew after 2 decades.
Had purchased a tournament style faux-leather ensemble, planning one day to get a weighted wooden set as well, but to play on the same old tournament mat, OR on a leather quality board emulating those tourney mats. 
Dec 27, 2022
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#17
Wits-end wrote:
Okay, I need to ask because 1) I’m dense enough to not know, and 2) I’m sharp enough to know when I’m in a room of intelligent folks…. Why are they called “coffee house” sets? Please don’t put a “kick me” sign on my back. 😄
Nothing silly about that question - here’s some background that may help http://www.chess-museum.com/old-vienna--coffeehouse.html
And then from Holger Langer:
https://www.chess-collection.de/newpage075502af
Of course mine is a cheap repro as opposed to the many and beautiful originals in the links above.
With ‘Coffee House’ being the location for a game between friendly combatants. 😊
Dec 27, 2022
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#18
Ah, thank you @Powder! That was a nice international and historical trip (your links). I appreciate the lesson and respite from our storm. It’s been 55-75 winds all night and running on generator for the past ten hours. Possible Floods on the wa now.Needless to say no sleep. So, thank you for the diversion as well. I agree with your daughter… happy, happy!
Dec 27, 2022
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#19
Hi Wits, I hope the storm abates and you find some sleep! Almost the opposite over here - nearly 100 degrees (37+ Celsius) yesterday and 80 overnight! Keep safe.
Dec 27, 2022
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#20
And by way of update to this thread - both sets had some flaws that need addressing. As usual (for me) CB has responded positively to redress/replace and I am now awaiting a response from SC (noting I received the pieces yesterday and sent a question today - so they need time to respond) before I post a fair and objective review. In the meantime - here’s the SC set on a bigger board again. On this board, 4 pawns fit snugly in one square; spacious but easier to see and play…. But the rose steals the show!😊
More to follow over the next week or so about a couple of sets from two different manufacturers. One has arrived - one in transit. Both sets are reproductions - not exact replicas - from around the late 1800’s. Different from any pieces I currently own. For now, a couple of pictures of the first set.
As my daughter might say … happy, happy …