Personally I don't think any of the above (with the exception of the gouged/cracked pawn) are very serious issues. Pieces of different woods often have varying weights, although generally it's ebony that is heavier than boxwood. OK 20g in one piece is a bit off. Also if you do a DIY job on a set of pieces, you can't really complain if it removes the finish. Seriously, most pieces just have some hard polish (wood turners stick, polishing compound ) applied to them (not varnish). This will always wear off over a relatively short time and will disappear quickly if it gets damp. Actually if you get it wet enough, any dye in the pieces will come off too. Antique sets were often sealed with shellac which is a bit more durable, but will still come off or craze over time. Wood is a natural product and will always have some flaws, marks, knots, discolouration etc. If you want complete uniformity, buy a plastic set.
House of Staunton messed it up again and again.
Personally I don't think any of the above (with the exception of the gouged/cracked pawn) are very serious issues. Pieces of different woods often have varying weights, although generally it's ebony that is heavier than boxwood. OK 20g in one piece is a bit off. Also if you do a DIY job on a set of pieces, you can't really complain if it removes the finish. Seriously, most pieces just have some hard polish (wood turners stick, polishing compound ) applied to them (not varnish). This will always wear off over a relatively short time and will disappear quickly if it gets damp. Actually if you get it wet enough, any dye in the pieces will come off too. Antique sets were often sealed with shellac which is a bit more durable, but will still come off or craze over time. Wood is a natural product and will always have some flaws, marks, knots, discolouration etc. If you want complete uniformity, buy a plastic set.
If all the purpleheart wood pieces weight less than their opposite colors, then I'd incline to believe that. In this case, in both type of woods the king, queens, rooks, bishops and pawns are almost the same weights, maybe 1 or 2 grams different. Only the knights are significantly different, that's why I can't believe it's the wood but I'm almost 100% sure they used different weights, high likely the weights of the pawns.
Buy elsewhere and get a refund. I looked at HOS and they charge brand premium
Too bad.
Only the knights are significantly different, that's why I can't believe it's the wood but I'm almost 100% sure they used different weights, high likely the weights of the pawns.
Two ways to get to the bottom of this. Gouge those lead puppies out. Or an X-Ray machine!
If all the purpleheart wood pieces weight less than their opposite colors, then I'd incline to believe that. In this case, in both type of woods the king, queens, rooks, bishops and pawns are almost the same weights, maybe 1 or 2 grams different. Only the knights are significantly different, that's why I can't believe it's the wood but I'm almost 100% sure they used different weights, high likely the weights of the pawns.
Understood. I accept that to have the difference in only two pieces is an indication of a flaw. I was just proposing that since this happens in many sets by mistake or naturally due to wood differences, you have to ask how serious a flaw it really is. As I said 20g is a fair amount for one piece. I'm sure I have sets with varying weights but I don't know because I never weighed them. I suppose if it is very noticeable when playing with them normally then you have a point. As a collector of old Jura sets, I can tell you that all those sets (that I have seen) have far more obvious flaws than those listed recently on this board. Yet they were bought and used for years and now sell for multiples of their original cost.
@Audioq: yes that's how I notice the weight difference when I used it the first time, analyzing a game. I happened to move a white knight then the following move, a black knight. I noticed immediately there is something wrong. Played the four knights in a sequence I even notice the weight difference between the two black knights. Then I took out a scale and weight them and it confirmed my suspicion. White knights both around 60g and between the black knights there is even a 8g difference (this out of my head).
Now I think about it, the person from CS told me he weights them all personally and all black knights are around 45g. Then the purpleheart/boxwood batch has a serious factory flaw. I really can't believe all other combo woods have that same flaw. HoS should take this up to their manafacturer, it's their problem not mine.
Personally I don't think any of the above (with the exception of the gouged/cracked pawn) are very serious issues. Pieces of different woods often have varying weights, although generally it's ebony that is heavier than boxwood. OK 20g in one piece is a bit off. Also if you do a DIY job on a set of pieces, you can't really complain if it removes the finish. Seriously, most pieces just have some hard polish (wood turners stick, polishing compound ) applied to them (not varnish). This will always wear off over a relatively short time and will disappear quickly if it gets damp. Actually if you get it wet enough, any dye in the pieces will come off too. Antique sets were often sealed with shellac which is a bit more durable, but will still come off or craze over time. Wood is a natural product and will always have some flaws, marks, knots, discolouration etc. If you want complete uniformity, buy a plastic set.
I understand what you mean - as soon as I removed the cloth it made it hard for HoS to deal with. But the amount of handling for that was minimal and the finish shouldn't have come off as it did. Besides, the boxwood pawns were all OK even with the handling and so were the ebony pieces. If the amount of handling I used was really a problem the only solution would be to wear gloves when playing with HoS pieces.
Do you suppose that Jaques used different weights in their boxwood and ebony pieces? I can find references to checking that all of the (screwed in) weights are the same, but not to different weights in pieces of different materials.
Understood. I accept that to have the difference in only two pieces is an indication of a flaw. I was just proposing that since this happens in many sets by mistake or naturally due to wood differences, you have to ask how serious a flaw it really is. As I said 20g is a fair amount for one piece. I'm sure I have sets with varying weights but I don't know because I never weighed them. I suppose if it is very noticeable when playing with them normally then you have a point. As a collector of old Jura sets, I can tell you that all those sets (that I have seen) have far more obvious flaws than those listed recently on this board. Yet they were bought and used for years and now sell for multiples of their original cost.
The whole point is to get the sellers to improve the quality of what they sell and to deliver better customer service not merely for us as buyers to roll over and accept flawed items and bad service. This is good for the seller as well as the buyer. No brainer.
Do you suppose that Jaques used different weights in their boxwood and ebony pieces? I can find references to checking that all of the (screwed in) weights are the same, but not to different weights in pieces of different materials.
I think you find the weights are the same just the wood can feel heavy say on the ebony pieces ? Alan would be the one to ask , Going on my Jaques set from 1885 - 1890 .
As a collector of old Jura sets, I can tell you that all those sets (that I have seen) have far more obvious flaws than those listed recently on this board. Yet they were bought and used for years and now sell for multiples of their original cost.
Don't get me started on Jura sets...
I think you find the weights are the same just the wood can feel heavy say on the ebony pieces ? Alan would be the one to ask , Going on my Jaques set from 1885 - 1890 .
Thats what I would expect, the weighted ebony Jaques pieces should be heavier than the boxwood ones if the weights are the same.
@Pawnerai shipping fee was 29.30 euro. The parcel I sent was still in transit when I received the 2nd mail. It took 14 days precisely to get it delivered there. It was waiting somewhere in US for 1 whole week before it moved to Huntsville.
@MCH818 talking about how the package was dispatched, I just realized something. I was so anxious to see if they get the weight right I totally didn't pay attention how it was wrapped.
This is how I sent to them, thick foam carved to exact size, another thick foam on top and sent in a thick Cisco carton box.
This is how they sent the replacement:
The three pieces in just a plastic bag, no foam wrapped around them no nothing
Tossed them in a thin carton box:
and fill the void with some paper:
That's a reassuring thought, sending the pieces like that overseas with lot of hubs on the way. The least they could do is reuse the packaging I sent to them. I guess they got my money already so who cares about after service.
This is how I received my replacement pieces as well. Mine came in a smaller white box. I was content with the paper material HoS used. The box was tightly packed so I am positive that the box can be thrown around without damaging the internal pieces. I used the same box and packaging to send pieces back to HoS. There were never any issues.
[edit] Michael, Sorry if this was already discussed as I have not read the entire thread, but have you considered asking HoS for a discount on the set? They did that for me when there was an issue with one of the sets I purchased from them. I think one or two pieces had some kind of defect and they did not have any replacement pieces. I believe it was my Collectors Series. I told them I loved the set but I was not happy with the two issues. They offered me a $100 coupon for an imperfect set. I accepted their offer and took the set as-is with the coupon.
@MCH818 for such company with a reputation, I'd expect at least to wrap the pieces with foam. Only three pieces, how expensive can that be? I've seen people buying 30 USD plastic set that were all wrapped up in thin foam paper for each piece.
No I haven't thought of getting discount for imperfect set and I don't think I want that. I will still get annoyed when playing with it every time.
I have slept a night over it and I'm still piss.d about the this kind of service. If this happens here in the Netherlands, I'd go there myself and talk to the manager.
Anyone knows the name of a manager at HoS? I plan to call them but I want to talk to someone in charge.
Personally I don't think any of the above (with the exception of the gouged/cracked pawn) are very serious issues. Pieces of different woods often have varying weights, although generally it's ebony that is heavier than boxwood. OK 20g in one piece is a bit off. Also if you do a DIY job on a set of pieces, you can't really complain if it removes the finish. Seriously, most pieces just have some hard polish (wood turners stick, polishing compound ) applied to them (not varnish). This will always wear off over a relatively short time and will disappear quickly if it gets damp. Actually if you get it wet enough, any dye in the pieces will come off too. Antique sets were often sealed with shellac which is a bit more durable, but will still come off or craze over time. Wood is a natural product and will always have some flaws, marks, knots, discolouration etc. If you want complete uniformity, buy a plastic set.
I understand what you mean - as soon as I removed the cloth it made it hard for HoS to deal with. But the amount of handling for that was minimal and the finish shouldn't have come off as it did. Besides, the boxwood pawns were all OK even with the handling and so were the ebony pieces. If the amount of handling I used was really a problem the only solution would be to wear gloves when playing with HoS pieces.
Yeah basically that's the same issue. Either all the varnish came off easily or not. If only few pieces came off easily and the rest is fine, then it's obvious those pieces didn't get the same treatment / finish handling.
Do you suppose that Jaques used different weights in their boxwood and ebony pieces? I can find references to checking that all of the (screwed in) weights are the same, but not to different weights in pieces of different materials.
I'm not a manufacturer, but I would think they would balanced out the different weight in wood with weights. I don't think I want to play, no I'm pretty sure I don't want to play with a set where one color is way heavier than the other.
Do you suppose that Jaques used different weights in their boxwood and ebony pieces? I can find references to checking that all of the (screwed in) weights are the same, but not to different weights in pieces of different materials.
I'm not a manufacturer, but I would think they would balanced out the different weight in wood with weights. I don't think I want to play, no I'm pretty sure I don't want to play with a set where one color is way heavier than the other.
I understand what your position is, it appears that that may not have been what Jaques, a real manufacturer, did.
@MCH818 for such company with a reputation, I'd expect at least to wrap the pieces with foam. Only three pieces, how expensive can that be? I've seen people buying 30 USD plastic set that were all wrapped up in thin foam paper for each piece.
No I haven't thought of getting discount for imperfect set and I don't think I want that. I will still get annoyed when playing with it every time.
I have slept a night over it and I'm still piss.d about the this kind of service. If this happens here in the Netherlands, I'd go there myself and talk to the manager.
Anyone knows the name of a manager at HoS? I plan to call them but I want to talk to someone in charge.
You're right. I can understand why you are upset. I actually misspoke earlier. I looked back at some of the photos I have of the problems with the HoS sets. HoS always sent the pieces wrapped in some kind of white styrofoam packaging like in the photo below. I don't remember the pieces being placed in an individual plastic bag though. Each were wrapped up and tied with a rubber band. When I sent something back to HoS, I sent it like the below. It arrived at HoS without issue.
@Greg, that would be odd. In any sport any player wants the same weight as close as possible in their equipment. In golf, you want your woods to have the same swing weight, in tennis your rackets to weight the same. I have two snooker cues from different brand but they're matched in weight as close as possible.
Yeah a refund plus what the custom charged me, that's the least they can offer. Bluntly saying there is nothing they can do, because it's a cheap mass product that really piss.d me off.