Even so this roll up leather board is my favorite to play on especially with wood pieces . Not my favorite to care for, but I love it.
Leather Chess Boards
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Well to be fair, I paid $25 for it back in the day. I have two veneer wood boards, several vinyl ones, and both a thick and thin mousepad board. I do not yet have nor care to have a silicone board.
Even so this roll up leather board is my favorite to play on especially with wood pieces . Not my favorite to care for, but I love it.
Even so this roll up leather board is my favorite to play on especially with wood pieces . Not my favorite to care for, but I love it.
Similar to an ebony chess set, as a consumer, sometimes the thought of owning one is much better than actually owning one.
In such a case, the price point is important. The price has to be low enough for it be a fun impulse purchase. If it's in the +$50-60 range (plus shipping) many people will give pause and "think about it." Do I really need another board? Do I have to baby it? Will I really use it that much? I really should be saving for the NOJ set...
Don't get me wrong. I'm no Debbie downer here. It's a unique product to bring back that no one else offers. But nowadays there are so many other options than in the past. There will be an initial burst of buyers from word of mouth. I'm just playing devil's advocate here. And you asked for constructive opinions.
Just be VERY careful with leather quality. You might get some great cherry-picked samples shipped to you. And everything looks great,,,, until you receive that first bulk shipment in-house. I really do wish you good luck. I would love to see how they turn out. And at what the final shipped price lands at.
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Jan 7, 2021
0
#25
guys traveling sets are silicon
they are thinner than mouse pads,better in every way and etc, and bruh, lether has a tint in color, and most people even use mouse pad https://www.google.com/search?q=sponge+chess+board&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS922US922&sxsrf=ALeKk03OfhSqZjF8YGYK2uW6FzKDm-SneQ:1610036816534&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjd9ZjEnoruAhVspFsKHRn3DJgQ_AUoAXoECBAQAw&biw=1440&bih=798#spd=3392062309872906759
boards, those are higher quality and etc just not as mobile, and good for pro use, wooden ches pieces also suck and they dont have wieghts like the special wieghted pieces do
Shelby, I tried to help you out by posting the pics and the video. I really do like the leather board and I am glad I have one. I would love to know that it is replaceable if need be.
ShelbyLohrman wrote:
Don't get me wrong, I sell a ton of silicone boards. They are great for people who want chess on the go and just wad up the board with the pieces in their backpack or fold it up. Each version of the boards have their benefits and drawbacks. You just have to figure out which one best suits your needs.
This. Literally the only slight advantage of silicon boards is that they scrunch down quite small, even smaller than mouse pad boards I think, without creasing. But mouse pad boards don't crease either, while silicon board feel gross, pieces drag, and every bit of dust and hair sticks to them. I have a few but never use them nor can I conceive of a use for them. But that's just for ME. If you love 'em, that's great!
Perhaps it's just my personal opinion but I don't like the feel of either the mousepad boards or the silicone ones. However, the leather has the advantage that the creases that build up over time (as long as the board isn't abused) seem to add some character, whereas creases on a vinyl board are unattractive. If it's well designed it will also lie flatter more easily. So a good leather one is my first choice above all.
Well, it takes an awfully long time then: I've had mousepad boards folded into quarters undisturbed for years and there is no creasing. I have silicon boards folded in a box somewhere as well, but I won't be spending time looking for them because I don't use them.
I've had actual mouse pads folded for near a DECADE without creasing (thanks, failed business). So, for all practical purposes in my life, mousepad boards don't crease.
ShelbyLohrman wrote:
What do you guys think about the idea of me bringing back the Leather Chess Boards? These would be 2MM thick and have the squares and the notation printed on them.
Here is a pic of one of the old ones.
Here is a pic of one of the ones with a brand on them.
We would make them nice and clean with the natural color material and either Brown, Green, or Black printing on them.
These are nice because they match well with pretty much any wood chess set. I always thought it was an abomination to use a nice wood set on vinyl. This would give people a nice roll-up travel board that sets the pieces on a new level. They look nice, lay flat, and are WAY cheaper and easier to carry than a wood board.
Would love to get your opinions.
thanks
Shelby Lohrman
American Chess Equipment
Looking forward to it!
ogbumblingpatzer wrote:
Well, it takes an awfully long time then: I've had mousepad boards folded into quarters undisturbed for years and there is no creasing. I have silicon boards folded in a box somewhere as well, but I won't be spending time looking for them because I don't use them.
I've had actual mouse pads folded for near a DECADE without creasing (thanks, failed business). So, for all practical purposes in my life, mousepad boards don't crease.
I didn't say mp boards creased. I said I don't like their feel. So for me it's good vinyl or leather.
I wasn't responding to you. I was responding to the post just above mine.
Jan 7, 2021
0
#34
I would not have believed the first pic was of a leather board without you telling me. It looks just like a green/buff vinyl board, at least in that photo. I prefer leather to look like leather. In this case, I think a nice leather board with brownish hues would really compliment a nice wooden set.
I would buy one for sure.
ogbumblingpatzer wrote:
Well, it takes an awfully long time then: I've had mousepad boards folded into quarters undisturbed for years and there is no creasing. I have silicon boards folded in a box somewhere as well, but I won't be spending time looking for them because I don't use them.
I've had actual mouse pads folded for near a DECADE without creasing (thanks, failed business). So, for all practical purposes in my life, mousepad boards don't crease.
I have a thick mousepad board, and I keep it rolled because I thought folding it would lead to the board surface eventually chipping or cracking
The first pic is my leather board.
ShelbyLohrman wrote:
Pawnerai wrote:
We now have a great supplier that we have been dealing with for years with other leather products on the WE Games end of the business. I am very confident that we will be getting these in the highest quality possible.
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Have a feeling they will be right around $40 or so. Depends on the production costs, minimums, shipping, customs, and duties. I will know better after I get the sample.
Hope everyone is staying healthy out there!
Thanks
Shelby Lohrman
American Chess Equipment
That seems great. I have the vinyl one, which is fine. But the leather would be nice. Will it lay flat? The vinyl one curls and is kind of annoying sometimes. Plus, I think I'm local to you in sunny So Cal. Let me know.. Thanks.
Pawnerai wrote:
[...]
In such a case, the price point is important. The price has to be low enough for it be a fun impulse purchase. If it's in the +$50-60 range (plus shipping) many people will give pause and "think about it." Do I really need another board? Do I have to baby it? Will I really use it that much? I really should be saving for the NOJ set...
[...]
I'm with Pawnerai regarding price point, especially from this side of the ocean. If it's around 80 USD including shipping, then I'd rather go for a Rechapados Ferrer board which I can get here for around 70 euro included shipping. Not to mention custom, 2 out of 3 orders I had coming in from USA I got charged for it. So unless I really want a leather travel board my first thought will be 'I'd better spend that kind of money on a RF board'.
I think if you do bring out that leather travel board, it will only be interesting for the North American market.
Jan 9, 2021
0
#39
Shelby, you've made my day! I've owned one of your leather boards for about 10 years now, and it's my absolute favorite piece of chess equipment. It was damaged in the hurricanes a few years ago, and I have grieved about not being able to get a suitable replacement. You can sign me up for the first buff and brown board now! 
Sorry, but I can't see paying 3-5X the cost of a vinyl board for a leather one that still doesn't lie flat. That's the reason I upgraded to mousepad boards.