Local finds

Actually the white horsies need some recoating lol but that's not my forte so I'll leave them as is.

It looks fine to me. I really do not like thick varnish sets. I would leave them as is.

Any tips for hunting stuff down locally besides...craigslist and Offerup?

Just gotta be lucky and have patience, that's all there is to it. I prefer to look locally that's way cheaper than fleabay and that sort of bidding sites.

I know you're in a different country so the logistics will be quite different...but are there any types of shops or sales you've found return the best results?

My best local finds are just from local craiglist here, the last one I had was this whole set (pieces, board and clock for 40 euro). I gave up on going to local thrift stores, we have like 4 here where I live but there is rarely any chess related stuff at all.

I am in the US like you. These old sets are hard to find because most are in Europe. Michael has it good because it is close to where everything is. It is kind of like American Pickers. They always say the good stuff is in the New York area because that's were all of the old stuff resides. I think the same idea applies to chess stuff. All of it seems to reside in Europe. Anyhow, I tried Craigslist before and there is just nothing there. I have some luck on Etsy and eBay but those sites are super expensive. I got lucky twice so far but that's it. We'll never find anything in the price range the Michael and others in Europe can find. That's just how it is. I think you and I might be able to find stuff at estate sales but that's a lot of work to find a very specific thing.

@MCH818 - noting your response here and in the TCE Chavet thread. Very similar here in Aus, I think. Europe seems to be a wonderful playground for collectors … here in Aus,it’s trickier and if buying from O/S add in a substantive freight cost (if not included) to get to our far off shores too. In some ways, this makes repro’s easier/less hassle if the price is right (albeit they don’t have the provenance attached). Horses for courses, I’ll do a bit of both. I’m looking forward to getting the Phillipines set via Germany (from Holger) in due course, I may pick up some local stuff from time to time and I might buy from o/s retailers too.

Maybe you’ll get lucky on rubbish day again!

@Wits-end - yes indeed, one can only hope. 👍😊

Yeah I think you and I are in the same boat. It is slim pickens so to speak. I forgot about the freight cost as well. When do you expect the Philippines set from Holger?

So...next time I go to Europe, I'll have to craigslist ahead of time! 

The UK and French secondary market are the best for finding vintage stuff. I'm happy for the British people to be free from the bureaucratic EU but the import charges sucks lol

That's not too bad. It will only be 2 more weeks until you can open the box.

+1 for me. That's a great idea! I've been to France twice but never the UK. That's food for thought for me.

What are the chances of finding vintage reasonably-priced and complete Russian/Soviet chess sets from flea markets, thrift shops, Craigslist in Russia?

I've seen a post from someone on FB, he found those big square black Jantar clock for few dollars on the fleamarket there. I believe he's in Romania. Here those clocks cost hundreds of dollars at the moment. I bet those Soviet sets are dirt cheap on local craiglist overthere and sold for much on Etsy. Here on Dutch craiglist I've never come across one.

Other side import tax + vat tax has gone up no favour on the uk side just a big lost of a sellers market there end ? as by the time you have to pay import tax just not worth it along with vat on EU end

Clocks? Now we’re talking about…clocks?!

I just checked the Betsy website and found the Jantar (black) clocks being offered at over $500 US. Wow! Were they this expensive BC? (Before Covid)