Performance Chess Clocks- a virtual chess clock museum

Yeah, it wasn't as if I were in the market to get a clock right then. I just happened to see it at the start of the 4th of July weekend on eBay. After liking it on Igor's site, I had sort of casually kept my eyes open for one, but none appeared. I saw plenty of later model Jantar's, and lots of the black Bakelite clocks, and even the wood Jantar clocks as seen in the "Queen's Gambit" show. So, when that clock showed up and looked to be in such great condition, had the original box and manual, I just felt compelled to bid, as I might never see another like it. I am very glad I did...no regrets at spending the money at all. To me it is more than just a clock, it is also a work of art. Someday in the future I will be gone, and I just hope it ends up in the hands of someone who will care for it as I will.

What did it run you? Just curious,so I can guilt the wife if she hassles me about future chess expenditures.

PDX....Sorry for the miscommunication.

The Jerger clock was $249 plus about $12 for shipping from Canada. It was really more than I wanted to pay, but as I had seen no others for the last 9 months I had no other prices to compare it to. What is anything worth? I suppose things are worth what someone is willing to pay for them. If there had been a "make an offer" option I might have tried to get it for less, but it was just a straight auction with an opening price. I am just lucky nobody else bid before the auction closed, as I am not sure how high I would have gone before dropping out of the bidding. Not being married I don't have to justify my expenditures to a wife. However I have always been fiscally responsible. I have zero debt other than a credit card I pay off monthly, and enough money in the bank not to feel pressured about money. I think that makes me very "out of the norm" for Americans, who generally live under a pile of debt. Being in the black is far more relaxing that being in the red. Hard to say where I would be if I had gotten married when I was younger.

Yeah, that was pretty much my thinking. Add to that the fact that I really just wanted one, and seeing the nice condition of this clock basically made up my mind for me. What I didn't expect was that there were no other bids. I really think it was just the fact that it was a holiday weekend and people were on vacation or camping or something, and not sitting indoors watching an eBay auction for a slightly pricey chess clock. I noticed there were also quite a few tournaments that weekend, so maybe some of the collector's were out playing instead of out buying. I just feel pretty lucky that I got it.

My feelings are,if one sees something they want and can afford....Go for it! There's a real satisfaction to owning quality,or hard to come by items.

As long as it's not those stupid pokemon cards my grandkids are addicted to!

I don't feel like I have slowed down on my collecting. I almost always have something coming to me in the mail. I currently have 2 books heading toward me. Last month I got Volumes 1 and 2 of Dvoretsky's School of Chess excellence. This month it is Volumes 3 and 4. I have lately been on a bit of a Soviet/Russian school of chess kick. For over half a century they dominated the chess world, and while you might disagree with the politics, it is hard to argue with the results. And they not only produced some of the best players, but a lot of great chess teachers, authors, and puzzle and problem composers as well. I have a healthy stack of these books on my table, and am going to get started as soon as I finish working through the games in the book I am currently going through. That would be "The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played", by Andy Soltis. I have it on my Kindle so it is easy to play through the games at home, or take it to the club in my chess bag and do a little work there. One of these days I will have to make a post about my favorite books, or maybe just post a database of all my chess titles and their authors. It just sounds like a lot of work.

Anyway, the first books I will start on will be Lev Alburt's "Secrets of the Russian Chess Masters", Volumes 1 and 2. After that probably the "Soviet Chess Primer" by Ilya Maizelis. Those should keep me busy for a bit.

Good Lord PDX Axe! You're going to be a GM before you know it!

I have one more chess set coming to me and that's it! I'll top off the collection with 22 full size sets and 3 travel size sets and 4 nice full size boards.....My desire to add more has waned and I need to put more energy into playing skills.

I still have about 7-8 books(out of 13) that I own and have not finished....Obviously my poor play shows it.....No time table here....Having too much fun!

I thnk the time when I could ever improve enough to become a GM is long past. A much more realistic goal for me is to reach possibly 1800 if I really crack down on my studying. To be a good class B, or even maybe a class A would make me quite happy. When I was in the Portland Chess Club I only got a chance to play in one tournament. Provisional rating then started at 1500, and at the end of the tournament i was somewhere in the 1520's. But that is when life got in the way, or more precisely work, and my schedule changed to include some nights and weekends, which killed any chance to play in tournaments. Eventually I let my USCF lapse, as paying dues with nothing to gain didn't make much sense to me.

Well,your response makes sense to this forum member.

So, my brother was messaging our friend Scott from the Beaverton Chess Club, talking about a little Quads Tourney in memory of a friend, Tony Midson, that will be happening in August. We were talking to Scott about bringing a clock, as not everyone has one. He sent my brother a picture of his chess clock that he got back in 1977, given to him as a gift by friends when he left the Navy. My jaw almost hit the floor when I saw the photo.

It is a pristine Heuer Looping Chess Champion clock, with original box and instructions, all looking brand new. As this is a bit later model, it appears to have the plastic buttons rather than the red anodized aluminum buttons of the original models. He said he might have used it 3 or 4 times, and since then it has been in the box in his closet. We sent him the link to eBay, where there are only a couple of them, the cheapest having broken glass, yet still asking $500. A bit nicer one is going for $650. The value of Scott's, being almost unused and with a pristine box and manual, I can't even make a reasonable guess.

You jaw isn't the only one that dropped.....Sheesh! Am I beginning to become a clock aficionado?

I was happy with just the "still in box" H.O.S. Insa.

I found a third one, doesn't say Heuer, just Looping on the clock face. This is one of the older models with metal timer buttons on top, and appears to be in excellent condition. Starting bid on that one is $999, or make an offer. I would guess the value of Scott's clock to be somewhere between the $650 Heuer, and the $999 earlier Looping. That's about as close a guess I can make. Pretty nice gift from his Navy buddies!

I really like that retro-modern look; it’s a chess clock that should appear in the fun kitsch art of Josh Agle (shAg). I don’t know the man personally but if he’s listening - a chess set in the background with the silver wood clock pictured above in one of his paintings would look great! 😃😉👍
https://shagstore.com/collections/fine-art-prints-by-shag-josh-agle

You can say that again.....The face/buttons/body dimensions and metalwork are pure class. Really an exceptional instrument. Almost Rolex like and I'm not a watch guy.

The funny thing was he had no idea of the value of the clock. After looking at the eBay listings, he said he carefully put it back in the box and locked it in the closet. He won't be bringing it to the tournament either. Can't say as I blame him. I suggested he get a DGT 3000 Limited Edition clock that are currently being sold for $67 on Amazon. The price has dropped since they aren't really limited anymore. After the original allotment ran out, they were in high demand, and people were selling "New in Box" ones at rather high prices on eBay. Then DGT, seeing how popular and in demand they were, reissued a huge allotment of them, and now they are selling for a lot less money. People that paid higher prices for a "Limited Edition" clock are probably a bit pissed off, now that it is no longer limited.

I think MCH needs one.....C'mon out of hiding Mike.

I think he lives on the east coast, so he is probably asleep right now. Not like me, a crazy old insomniac that used to work graveyard shifts for years.

I'm on the East Coast.....MCH is in California.We frequently chat around this time,as my wife bugs me to hit the sack....Like right now.

"Coming dear".....Bye.