Looking back, I miss the middle-brow culture of the fifties and early sixties, where average Americans aspired to classical music, black-tie jazz, movies based on serious literature ("Dr. Zhivago") or biopics on famous people ... and chess sets sold in toy stores by name sculptors.
Post your favorite plastic chess sets(not for snobists)
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loubalch: They were glossy, solid plastic and had a decent heft.
Ipcress, when I first moved to Wisconsin back around the turn of the millenium, Milwaukee had a board game store that stocked any number of chess sets and boards. It's been gone now for nearly a decade. I miss not being able to see a whole bunch of different sets and boards in a local store. 
For some of us oldsters, virtual isn't always better than actual!
Chess sets seem to be a specialty item now.
The toy/game stores I've seen have a perfunctory plastic chess set or an overpriced wood set, but most of the space is for all the new custom games like Magic: The Gathering.
ipcress12 wrote:
This was my first chess set. I got it when I was in 8th grade because I thought it looked so cool.
It was designed by recognized sculptor, Peter Ganine, and sold by one of the big toy companies. Turns out it was used for 3-D chess on Star Trek. There's a used market for these old sets for as much as $150.
I still think it looks cool but I wouldn't want to play with it.
That Gothic set looks in great shape. That was my second set, which I inherited from my grandfather and still have. My first set was Ganine's Conquerer in plastic. It didn't survive my younger brothers' treatment after I moved away to college. I still don't mind playing on the Gothic but mine is in much worse shape than yours. Nothing broken but some pads inexpertly replaced and the usual wear marks on the pieces.
I still don't mind playing on the Gothic but mine is in much worse shape than yours.
I wish I still had that Gothic set but it didn't survive all my moving around in my twenties.
Here's my good old Drueke.
It's a somewhat unusual design compared to most Stauntons. The pieces are slender yet flare out to a full base. The pawns are shorter. The major pieces don't look like they are hiding behind a wall of pawns, but looming over them.
Here's my Paladin set, based on the Drueke, in the same position but shot from noon light. I like the Paladin OK, but the White pieces are really white!
The plastic manufacturing is different too, so the tall pieces aren't plumb -- they look a bit wilted. Note the cross is askew on the Paladin King, compared to the Drueke.
Jun 4, 2015
0
#70
I kind of liked the Paladin set, but last time I looked to buy it I didn't see it listed anymore. It seems a lot of popular sets were discontinued in the last couple of years.
You're right.
I got my Paladin two years ago. There was also a wood-colored version that I would have prefered then but it was on "back order." Now they are both on back order, probably never to reappear.
I guess there wasn't enough of a market for Drueke look-alike. It's no longer the USCF standard and the older players who grew up with Drueke already have their set or aren't playing anymore.
I also think internet chess, chess software and chess e-books have substantially reduced the market for chess sets overall.
I must admit I do my chess mostly on the computer and with books.
rcmacmillan: Cool beans. Thanks.
If I was sure other sets wouldn't have the same warping flaw I see in my Paladin, I would buy it.
I've got to say, seeing the kings and to a lesser extent the queens looking slightly cock-eyed kinda ruins the Paladin for me. I could play with it in the park, but that's about it.
Jun 5, 2015
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#73
Glad to see someone is still carrying it, I wish it was still available in black and white though. Not a big fan of natural in plastic, though I guess if you are going after old school Drueke fans it makes sense.
Not a big fan of natural in plastic...
I take your point. After using a wood set for so long, the Drueke light pieces looked strange to me yesterday when I was setting up that photo.
Careful when ordering the HOS Reykavik pieces. Ive had mine for 6 months and the spherical heads of 2/8 black pawns are breaking off when in storage.
Jun 6, 2015
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#76
umirin1991 wrote:
Careful when ordering the HOS Reykavik pieces. Ive had mine for 6 months and the spherical heads of 2/8 black pawns are breaking off when in storage.
I have had a few issues with other HOS "higher end" plastic pieces as well. Not sure if this is a trend or just bad luck. With my experience, their service is good when dealing with defective product.
They might be making them with tainted plastic is my guess. The Marshall plastic pieces are doing great so far but then I don't play Blitz.
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I believe it is this one, the Legend Kings Indian.
https://www.legendproduct.com/details.asp?action=1&id=35
Ipcress, are those pieces plastic or ceramic?
I HAD this set too! Thought they looked real cool (ala kid-speak, circa 1962).
Of course, I was always getting the pieces mixed up, 'cause they all looked the same from behind, which is why I usually had my behind handed to me playing with this set!