Usually, the labels do not indicate date but specific size/model/color - so the 5 could be in reference to Staunton 5 (90mm), for example.
As for age, probably 60s or early 70s - post a picture, that might help narrow down the age.
Lardy set: date of manufacture?
Sort:
Hmm. Didn't know that. I'll post a picture when I actually have the set in hand; it's still on its way and might take a week or two to get here.
Right. So In the meantime, I got the set I'd referred to, along with another smaller Lardy set. I'll post pictures of both.
Larger set:
For reference, the white king (slightly bent with age) is roughly 104mm tall (eyeballing it using my 50mm square board, pictured) with a 44mm base (I measured that one!).
And the smaller set:
(squares are 40mm: I didn't get a height measurement on this one, but it's about 2.5")
A really nice Lardy set.! They were bigtime sets in the day. I guess Chavet has taken over.? The Chavet is nice but, too expensive fo me. I did here reports of Lardy pieces warping like the King doing the limbo etc.. If any of the pieces are not warped bad its no big deal though.
Loose weights are an easy fix. Get a sharp knife & remove the felt. Next remove the loose weight & glue it with elmers glue. Re insert the weight & let dry overnight upside down. Next is to put some new felt on the bottom with a little elmers glue & stand it up on the felt over night. Next is to trim the felt with a sharp pair of scissors & your done..! It has worked perfectly for me.
[COMMENT DELETED]
8 and 2 in the encodes "ST/5/8/CH" and "ST/4/2/BS" are Staunton scale. Here is the list of Staunton scale in case you do not know it.
http://www.chess-museum.com/question--answer.html
I think the last two letters are info on the chess boxes.
CH=Coffret Hêtre=Beech tree box (casket)
BS=Boîte Sapin=Fir box
Another French chess company, Chavet, has similar info in their product catalog.
My Lardy set says "ST/8/4/CH" and it is a No.4 Staunton in Beech tree casket.
Great help with the Lardy code on the bottom of the box! The third number is the size according to the Staunton scale. The last letters are the kind of wood used for the box. Maybe the first couple of letters are style, "STaunton". So what is that second number? Somebody must have sussed that out! Enquiring minds want to know.
-Mike
I've had a hard time pinning down the date range on Lardy sets, or the Lardy company's demise, for that matter. One clue I found on eBay is an auction for a Lardy box with a CE mark on it. According to Wikipedia, CE marking "in its present form" dates back to 1985. Lardy must have gone belly up in 1985 or later, then.
I recently purchased a Lardy set from eBay. I'm sure it's not worth more than the few pounds I paid for it (I got it for playing), but I am curious how old it is. The label says "1st | 5 | 8 | CH". I think the 1st | 5 part meams 1st May, but I have no idea how the other bit encodes year. Anyone else know?