Local finds

Exactly! What’s not to like except for those things you mentioned plus the ripples when it doesn’t lay flat.

Michael, If I remember correctly, the first number is the finish 8 is for antique and 7 is for ebonized. The second is the size and the CH is the box material. Do you and @BrownishGerbil think it is different?

Buddy yeah I thought so too but now I'm not so sure anymore as Gerbil has the same ST7|5 as me but his is brown stained and mine ebonized.

I should check other references on known sets, but mine is an exact match of your ST8/5.  More and more convinced mine is in the wrong box (production mistake?)

The knight in the ST7 is also pretty different in your pictures: different chest, snout and mane carving (and ofc the finish)

It could be a production mistake like you said. Perhaps someone swapped the boxes by mistake as well.

In all the years that I have had my vinyl board never any ripples , if you roll them up sq on the outside , should last you a life time , Buy one & try it before you knock it , MCH818

Also it keeps your cost down on having different size boards .

MCH818 + could also make into a hat to keep your head dry in the rain  ,

@lighthouse It is true that I have not used a vinyl board before but I didn’t just knock the vinyl board out of the blue. There are plenty of people here at CB&E who have said the same thing about the ripples and the board not laying flat. Perhaps they’re just making it up or they didn’t roll it up properly. I don’t know. Are you saying these are not issues to be concerned with? Are you saying that if I roll it up with the squares on the outside that I won’t have an issue with ripples or the Baird laying flat? If so maybe I’ll give it a try. Chess house has a 17” for $6.

I do have a silicone board and I do not like it because of the dust. I also do have a mousepad board and I do like it very much. It is not a dust magnet. Also I can see how it will lay flat no matter how I fold it, roll it up, or tie it up. I much prefer to go with a mouse pad over a vinyl board that may or may not have issues laying flat. What do you think? Is vinyl ok if I roll it up with the squares in the outside?

MCH818 Yes & yes as above , can always sell it on ebay if you dislike , or roll into a wizard hat & wear ? https://www.chesscomshop.com/chess-com-vinyl-tournament-chessboard-2-25.html

@Lighthouse ok I will give it a try. For $6 if I don’t like it I won’t sell it. I’ll just turn it into a hat you said.

@lighthouse the board came in. It was rolled up with the squares on the outside.

I unrolled it and it has some lovely ripples.

Do these go away on their own or do I need to hang it up on a shower curtain like @Pawnerai did with his Ace vinyl pad board?

Yes hanging for couple of days will straighten it up. It worked with mine.

Thanks I will give it a whirl and see what happens.

Picked up a used, but not very old, "American knight" (?) Staunton set in boxwood and rosewood with a king's size of 3.85". The set is old enough for the boxwood pieces to have attained a pleasant and even yellowish patina, and old enough to have come without extra queens. Very good carving quality and a nice sheen/polish, and very little wear and tear (no cracks). Nothing fancy, but should make an excellent playing set.

Nice looking set as well as that board.Hope you get much pleasure from both.

Lovely. 👍

or just press the board sq side down with some heavy books / or hang on washing line with some heavy clips for some days . Here a photo of my one I just made for you with two Art deco chess knight book stops my latest find for 25 euros

Just to add My B&W vinyl board had for over 15 years & still looks really nice ! MCH818

@lighthouse I hung it up on my shower for one night. I also hung it up my bathroom door for two days and nights. I also put it on the floor with a wood chess board on top of it. I placed a heavy filing box on top of the board. I did this for an hour. There are still ripples on both side and two corners curl upward even though I never rolled it up with the squares on the inside.

Overall I like the board. Here is a photo of my Knubbel on it. I like it!

However I am annoyed with the ripples. I am sure the board is find for most. I blame my annoyance on being a perfectionist. Regardless I tried it and I still prefer a mousepad but I would not be totally opposed to vinyl.

it should lose it's ripples in time ,mine have none of these issues , May be try a stream iron sq side down with a damp cloth , can always send it back . Joys of on line shopping ,