Post your Travel Chess Sets

Thanks, we are. I had two stents put in back in Nov. and all is well but my doc doesn't want me out and about too much. Exercise yes, but avoid public places if possible. Apparently heart patients are good targets for corona. I'm glad to hear you're better. That sounds rough!

That's beautiful...I love the mosaic border. Can you tell what it's made of? Shell maybe?

Someone spent a LOT of time crafting that board. They must have painted them first and then glued them as there is no way they could not get paint in the cracks any other way. Great find! And very nice pieces as well. The pegs don't fit well, so like you said they probably were not made for each other but amazing in their own right. Congrats!

Love the pieces!

I've never seen one either. I've got examples of many travel sets, but I've never seen a Drueke with flat pieces. The ones they sent overseas in WWII were the #100 Play-a-way sets. The oldest magnetic sets I've got are post-war Soviet sets with stand-up pieces. The flat magnetic pieces were common in the early 50's and onwards. I'm not saying its not possible - just that I've never seen one.  Here is a link to a Drueke catalog from 1977, but it shows nothing of the kind: www.peterspioneers.com/druekecatalog.pdf

I have a set called The Little Jewel....Extremely nice.

Great forum! Here’s my Jaques Whittington - it’s the larger 12 inch version. I work from home during the week and it always goes with me.

@madmacsback - Thanks for posting the Drueke catalog. It was very informative and entertaining at the same time. I'm beginning to suspect the author may be referring to the flat disc shaped magnets that are attached at the bottom. Here's a closeup shot I found on the internet:

https://www.oldsoulantiquesnsuch.com/listing/648752567/vintage-drueke-magnetic-travel-chess-set

@magictwanger - Are the magnets on your Little Jewel pieces also shaped like above?

@woldman  that is a beauty of a set.  One of the best I have seen. The antique travel sets were sure classy. 

Zagryan...I just double checked and the answer is yes.....I haven't looked at it for a while and it's in the original box,in virtually new shape.....I really appreciate the quality that went into this "Little Jewel" of a set......I bought it in Grenwitch Village,NYC many years ago.

Good luck

@magictwanger - Thanks for checking. Yes, I've also noticed the high quality of the Drueke Little Jewel from photos on the web. It's amazing for a travel set, especially the board with its wooden frame.

Is that magnetic? Looks wood to me. If it's magnetic, it still looks like wood.

This is a Philippine travel chess set that was in my Grandparents' basement for many years. Written on the inside of the box is:

"Hand Made, Bought in Olongapo City, Philippines in 1970 by Neil Greer, USN. Carried to: Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, San Francisco, San Diego, Centralia, Ill, Keokuk, Iowa, Great Bend, Ks. Bought by Jerry M Gee on March 21, 1979"

I was able to contact Neil Greer and he shared some history of the set. I made a short youtube video about it. https://youtu.be/43l_jp6kZBU I hope you all enjoy.

Funny. I realize that Filipinos of that generation kept notes about their stuff ON the items themselves; particularly about, the purchase date, purchase location and the price.

@cos5367 your post is the star contribution to this forum. Great video. Add my thanks to Grandma Flo!

@coss5367 great video and a superb set. I have several sets from the Philippines, but this is the first travel set I see in the Philippine Staunton pattern. In the video you mention that you were not aware of the actual species of wood used for the pieces. I think I can clarify, because Philippine Staunton sets of that time were usually made of local woods, narra for the white pieces and kamagong for the black pieces. Narra can be easily identified because it is reddish but often has a bright yellowish grain, which you can see here beautifully on the knight, for example. Kamagong wood is a coloured ebony type with a fiery red-brown grain, which again you can see beautifully on some of the black pawns. Excellent set!

@EfimLG47 Thank you for identifying the wood species!  I've never heard of Narra or Kamagong but their descriptions fit perfectly.   I'll add it in the video description.  

@coss5367 - Narra is described here and kamagong here, if you want to check it out. I have a little collection of chess sets from the Philippines, most of which are made of these two types of wood. You can find pictures and descriptions on my website.